Long Courtyard House Challenged the Typical Terrace Configuration

Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture

Long Courtyard House is a contemporary addition to a turn-of-the-century terrace house in inner Sydney. Scale Architecture reorients the typical courtyard to the side of the house to bring in North light and create indoor/outdoor living.

Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)
Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)

By reorienting the courtyard to the side of block, the project challenges the typical terrace configuration. It creates a north-facing side garden extending the full length of the addition.

Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)
Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)

The project is a compact building with a slender footprint, where each interior space relates to a new garden room. An equivalency of interior and exterior space is created, expanding the spatial relationship beyond the building envelope.

Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)
Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)

The addition is made up of two pure forms, each addressing its own garden. The concrete volume on the ground floor opens north to the long garden court, while a cantilevered timber box floating above opens east to a roof garden.

Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)
Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)

These discrete forms define the spatial arrangement - living takes place on the ground floor, inside the solid and elemental concrete form, while bedrooms are contained in the lightweight timber box above.

Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)
Long Courtyard House by Scale Architecture (via Lunchbox Architect)

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