Set on the edge of a leafy park in the evolving inner south suburb of Mascot, this project replaced a workers cottage into a warm, robust family home designed for modern living. Purchased  in 2009 as the owners first home, the original two-bedroom timber weatherboard cottage offered charm, character, and a rare green outlook to the adjoining park and playground. As their young family grew, so too did the need for additional space, functionality, and connection to the outdoors.

What began as an alterations and additions project soon evolved into a complete rebuild, carefully designed to retain a sense of history while creating a contemporary home tailored to family life. The new residence includes a home office, three generous bedrooms, open-plan living spaces, and seamless connections to the rear garden, alfresco area, and swimming pool — all framed by the surrounding tree canopy beyond.

Materiality played a central role in shaping the home’s identity. Recycled Sydney stock brick, polished concrete, smoked oak timber, and matte black aluminium cladding combine to create a timeless industrial palette that feels both masculine and inviting. Salvaged Oregon beams from the original cottage were repurposed into the front door, embedding pieces of the home’s past into its new form. Internally, layered textures, dark finishes, and richly tactile furnishings soften the robust architecture, resulting in a home that feels comfortable, refined, and deeply personal.

The result is a highly functional family home that balances simplicity, warmth, and durability — a distinctive black form amongst the surrounding suburban streetscape, softened by landscaping and its connection to the neighbouring parkland.