Tree Island by Carter Williamson
Driven by an opportunistic design approach to overcome its tight footprint, Tree Island by Carter Williamson Architects rises above all constraints, turning limitations into striking architectural outcomes.
Words: Cardia Speziale I Photography: Katherine Lu
As its own retreat space, Tree Island sits humbly among the urban surrounds. Photo: Katherine Lu
An earthy, contemporary palette of concrete, marble and brick contrasts with rich timber and soft furnishings. Photo: Katherine Lu
The home’s indoor and outdoor experiences are brought together in a balanced and considered manner. Photo: Katherine Lu
Home to some of Sydney’s inner-west most expansive spaces, Tree Island’s airy verticality transcends the limitations of its tight architectural footprint. Just four and a half meters wide internally, Carter Williamson Architects were able to maximise space by reaching up, not out.
Working closely with their clients to find the perfect home to start their young family, the brief was clear from the outset; “to have lots of natural light and great airflow, a connection to the outdoors, and great spaces to hang out in, both as a family and as individuals,” reflects Thu Zaw, Associate at Carter Williamson Architects.
A light-flooded void at the centre of the home connects the living, dining and kitchen areas — its lengthy, north-facing skylight illuminating every element of family life housed beneath. Planted directly into the kitchen island is a luscious fig tree, sitting proudly in the heart of the home and effortlessly bringing the outdoors in.
‘The double height void space and fig tree in the kitchen island is definitely the highlight of the design. The void connects all the living spaces together and creates a heart of the home,’ says Thu. ‘The entry from the existing heritage style front of the home holds you tight, before releasing you into the double height space, it’s a great experience,’ he continues.
A modest-scaled courtyard acts as a calm buffer between the existing home and the three-storey contemporary addition, which Carter Williamson created to increase living space for the dwelling. Sited in a heritage conservation area in Sydney’s inner west, Tree Island climbs higher as it moves back from the street.
It houses three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a study that opens onto a roof terrace nestled comfortably within the trees of its leafy surrounds. ‘The size of the site meant that green space was at a premium,’ explains Thu. ‘This resulted in the introduction of green space indoors through the fig tree in the kitchen island, the internal courtyard, and also in having a roof terrace.’
Throughout, concrete floors, dark marble counters and a striking double height brick wall provide a cool, robust material narrative that is contrasted by the kitchen’s rich timber joinery and soft furnishings. The building’s thermal mass keeps it cool in the summer and warm during the winter, while the north-facing skylight provides year-round illumination.
In Tree Island, Carter Williamson Architects have created a home that not only serves the needs of the people who live within it, but also is a unique and memorable example of how architectural challenges present an exciting opportunity for innovation.
Integrated as part of the new and bold kitchen island, the living addition offers a contrast to the hard and sculpted nature of the island. Photo: Katherine Lu
‘The entry from the existing heritage style front of the home holds you tight, before releasing you into the double height space, it’s a great experience.’ Photo: Katherine Lu
Spanning just four and a half metres wide, Tree Island is built up, not out. Photo: Katherine Lu
The building’s thermal mass keeps it cool in the summer and warm during the winter. Photo: Katherine Lu
“On the top of our client’s list was to have lots of natural light and great airflow, a connection to the outdoors and to bring nature in.”
‘The northern skylight that runs along the boundary brings in ample lighting to both levels of the home, as does the internal courtyard. The thermal mass of the concrete floor slab and large concrete blockwork walls retain warmth in the winter, and keep the home cool in summer, and this is further improved by the roof planting.’ Photo: Katherine Lu
‘The height of the tree emphasises the scale of the double height space, and light is brought in through a long skylight along the northern boundary, the second unique element, pooling natural light into the plan and reflecting the texture of the beautiful brick stack bond wall below, and the surrounding marmorino style walls.,’ says T'hu Zaw. Photo: Katherine Lu
‘It straddles the heritage feel of the street at the front façade and the industrial nature of the suburb at the rear.’ Photo: Katherine Lu
