In the heart of Sydney, an imaginative transformation has taken place in a 60sqm terrace house. This modest space has been redefined by an architecture that marries the past and future while addressing the specific needs of modern living. The design, completed in mid-2024, not only introduces much-needed outdoor elements but also rethinks the relationship between inside and outside, creating a seamless, open environment for its inhabitants.
One of the major challenges of this project was overcoming the limited space, with just 3.4m separating the two main walls. The solution: the entire ground floor now feels like an outdoor space. A newly designed courtyard replaces the rear garden, and the integration of a sliding panel parallel to the stairs allows the space to be fully opened, blurring the line between interior and exterior.
This intentional blurring of boundaries is one of the standout features of the house. Visual continuity is achieved with thoughtful details, like floor pebbles cast against frameless, full-height glass, creating a fluid transition. A floating bench, a subtle homage to Donovan Hill’s iconic ‘D House,’ further emphasizes this design philosophy of openness and simplicity.
The design is deeply rooted in the client’s cultural background, borrowing elements from the outdoor vernacular architecture of Spain. Details like metal chains and roller blinds recall Mediterranean terraces, evoking memories of sunlit plazas and shaded patios. This reference to the client’s childhood aligns with Gaston Bachelard’s phenomenology of space, where architecture serves as a vessel for personal memory and experience.
At the heart of the project is the operable courtyard, both the most complex and expensive feature. The courtyard’s bifold doors and sliding panels, custom-designed and engineered, are hung from hidden steel and LVL (Laminated Veneer Lumber) beams. When fully opened, these elements thin the appearance of the roof, revealing a neighboring tree that visually becomes part of the house. This effect is reminiscent of James Turrell’s mastery of light and perspective, using architecture to create profound spatial experiences.
Beyond its aesthetic and functional innovations, the design emphasizes sustainability. Materials were reused and repurposed wherever possible to extend the lifespan of preexisting elements, aligning with the project’s environmentally conscious brief. This approach wasn’t just practical, it was necessary to achieve the desired aesthetic.
To create the ‘concrete look’ requested by the client, fiber cement panels were used for the ceilings, while cement renderings were applied to the walls. This choice of materials not only reinforced the structure, ensuring its durability for another century, but also harmonized with the contemporary design language of the house.
In the Terrace House Mirage, minimalism is more than just an aesthetic choice; it’s a means of unlocking the potential of space. By rethinking the relationship between indoor and outdoor living and introducing innovative, high-end engineering solutions, the design transcends the limitations of its size, creating an environment that feels expansive, tranquil, and deeply personal.
This project sets a new standard for terrace houses, where cultural memory, spatial phenomenology, and cutting-edge design converge to create a modern masterpiece in one of Sydney’s oldest architectural typologies.
Photography by YinjiSpace
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