Woodlands: A heritage addition

A recent Groth & Sons project takes the shape of an industrial-style addition to a heritage-listed property in Sydney’s Inner West. The original property boasts a recent extension in the form of an open plan family room, incorporating kitchen, dining and lounge areas.

On the fringes of Sunning Hill (Prior to being renamed Summer Hill) racecourse, the large double block boasted sufficient space to incorporate the racetracks stables. The original 1886 Victorian Italianate residence had a number of makeshift additions over the course of its life; these held no significant heritage value and were subsequently demolished to make way for something rather different.

This industrial design could be a New York warehouse or a time-worn mechanics garage revamped with a hint of steampunk to accommodate a modern family; whatever the design title may be, it is somewhat unique, is definitely atmospheric, and at the same time being incredibly functional.  

Recycled bare brick walls, high open trusses and polished concrete floors are the backdrops to an eclectic mix of colour and texture. Burnished metals, hand painted bespoke furniture; antiqued mirrors and curiosities make this interior sophisticated yet relaxed.

The centerpiece of the kitchen area is a large central island constructed of two-hundred-year-old timber reclaimed from the original roof structure. Hand-painted in milk paints and designed to echo the style of a French Apothecary cabinet, but rather than housing tinctures and potions from the medical closets of yesteryear, this hero piece is home to hi-tech modern appliances, a dishwasher that shines a laser display onto the industrial concrete floor, pop up charger for laptop requirements and drinking tap dispensing an array of sparkling and chilled filtered waters. It also accommodates a plethora of cooking equipment and utensils. The metal benchtop alone weighs in at a hefty three hundred kilos; a steel frame is covered in marine ply and finished in 2mm thick brass displaying a very agreeable industrial patina. This bespoke piece is the social hub of the new space, an area for preparing and sharing meals, a homework station or an alluring breakfast bar, practical addition to any busy kitchen.

Adjacent is the main cooking zone, an enormous glass box, made up of large antiqued mirrored panels, it houses an industrial double oven but hidden from view are fridges, freezer, commercial-grade extractor fans, microwave oven and a walk-in pantry. In direct contrast to modern kitchen design, where everything is hidden from view; apart from that is, for elements that one expects to be concealed, such as electrical components, an array of cables are surface mounted in old galvanized water pipes running into oversized industrial switch boxes.

Besides these two fixed elements, all the other components are completely detached; a far cry from a contemporary built-in kitchen. Groth & Sons have opted for an unfitted kitchen primarily due to a generous amount of space but driven by the ambition of creating something unexpected and authentic. This dramatic interior space is a flagship for a collection of Groth & Sons custom furniture pieces, such as dressers, wine storage racks, and coffee tables, in actual fact every piece in the room was handcrafted in the studio of Groth & Sons, the picture frames were produced from timber recycled from the demolition of the original site and a large coffee table was produced from the old bathroom floorboards, continuing the theme of repurposing.

In a large open planned area considered lighting design is paramount. Multi-layers of light are achieved through the use of, pendants, barn door spotlights, floor and desk lamps and even an old searchlight. These skillfully create lighting that is both direct and diffused with attention to areas such as task lighting, accent and indirect illumination. At first glance it is hard to discern that they are there for the purpose of illumination, appearing more like a suspended art installation. The windows were designed to create as much wall space as possible with glass apertures at the roofline and gables constructed of fixed and louvred panels, creating cross ventilation and allowing large areas of daylight to punctuate the interior.

Groth & Sons’ approach to interior architecture is established by meticulous planning, attention to detail, originality and bold design, the focus at ‘Woodlands’ is the connection of family and guests, resulting in a space that is both relaxing and stimulating, and is as theatrical as it is thoughtful.