Leichhardt Duplex

Leichhardt has evolved with a thriving café culture and strong multicultural influences that add a compelling flavour to the suburb.

However, council policy has maintained its zeal for strict regulations over generations, ensuring that no drastic changes are made that might conflict with the aesthetic traditionally associated with the area.

With a lot of patience, more than a touch of tenacity, and multiple rounds of edits to satisfy all stakeholder’s requirements, we were able to cultivate a design overflowing with lifestyle benefits that responded completely to an otherwise difficult piece of land.

Space was at a premium with a total area of 570sqm and a frontage of just 5.7m per dwelling for this Leichhardt duplex. The narrow width of the site and the gradual slope of the land over almost 50m, in addition to being surrounded by original condition houses on either side, presented an inspiring challenge.

The result is an extraordinary achievement in uniting modern architectural practices with a traditional streetscape. Illustrating this, the street-facing façade of the duplex employs stylish modern colours and materials, while also preserving a very traditional form. Meanwhile, Dormer windows and front verandas add a sophisticatedly elegant edge to the design, with thick structural members contributing a funky hint of industriousness.

As you move inside the experience through the entryway, it is awe-inspiring as the whole space opens up to a sweeping vista of the backyard. The wide-open ambience is heightened by soaring 5m ceilings which, for the cramped Inner-West, is absolutely palatial.

Fostering a welcoming warmth, the skylight over the staircase bathes the area in gorgeous natural northern sunlight as you head towards the four generously proportioned bedrooms.

Downstairs, luxury meets NY loft styling in the split-level kitchen, with exquisite marble tops including a 3m long island bench, window splashbacks, exposed brickwork, sumptuous lime washed timber floors and butler’s pantry. The design creates a flow to the backyard that is conducive to entertaining, while ensuring that family lifestyle is well catered to.

Despite the size restrictions, we managed to implement a pool into the design along with an absolutely stunning pavilion that seamlessly blends materials and textures to create an outdoor room that is as visually appealing as it is comfortable. Featuring a fireplace and bespoke sunken couches, it is the ultimate poolside chill out zone.

Outside of the modern finishes, the duplex gracefully lends itself to old-world charm by using restored pieces from its original form, including timber window features and reclaimed bricks from the old stables.

This property skilfully demonstrates that small dimensions can go a long way and that great things can be achieved with relatively little space and a lot of perseverance. A delicious cherry on top of all of this is the $200,000 saving on construction costs that the owner achieved by sourcing their own materials!

An alluring fusion of modern and classic themes punctuated by the Nordic design principles of simplicity and functionality, this duplex exemplifies the term “more than meets the eye”.