A minimalist dining area with a wooden table, four matching chairs, a wooden bench, and a wooden wall with a large mountain landscape painting. Natural light comes from sliding glass doors with white curtains, leading to an outdoor patio.

CLOVELLY HOUSE, 2025

Logo for Excellence in Housing Awards 2025 with the text WINNER in bold red below.

Project Brief & Design Intent

Clovelly House is a beachside renovation near the border of Coogee, shaped by the constraints of the existing dwelling and the evolving needs of its new owners. Last renovated around twenty years ago, the home required a considered update to improve comfort, light and usability, including the transformation of a damp, underperforming granny flat into welcoming accommodation for visiting family from overseas. Improving light, ventilation and outlook was central to this intervention. At ground level, the project focused on creating a cohesive kitchen, living and entertaining environment with a stronger connection to the garden and swimming pool, refining and reconfiguring the existing structure to support everyday living and a relaxed coastal lifestyle.

Construction & Craftsmanship

The delivery of Clovelly House required a disciplined and adaptive construction approach. The site presented clear challenges, including a steep block and narrow street access, which influenced sequencing and logistics throughout the build.

With crane access unavailable from the street, materials and major elements were delivered via a neighbouring school to the rear of the property. This approach required careful coordination and planning, allowing the project to proceed efficiently despite the site’s constraints.

The renovation included large-format Vitrocsa windows to the ground floor living areas, significantly improving light, ventilation and connection to the outdoors.Premium double-glazed Vitrocsa doors and windows were incorporated, along with the relocation of the swimming pool, landscaping works to the rear and courtyard, bathroom renovations, new ground-floor joinery and a new bin storage area to improve garage functionality.

Throughout the project, workmanship and detail resolution were prioritised to ensure a cohesive and resolved outcome.

Material Palette

Material upgrades were targeted and purposeful, allowing performance, durability and clarity to take precedence over visual excess:

→ Glass & Glazing: High-quality glazing systems introduced to improve thermal performance while opening the ground-floor living areas to the garden and pool.

→ Joinery: New joinery integrated across the ground floor to unify the kitchen, dining and living zones and support a cohesive layout.

Together, these interventions elevate the experience of the home, reinforcing a sense of openness and calm consistent with its coastal setting.

Client & Architect Experience

The renovation was shaped by practical, lived requirements — accommodating extended family, improving day-to-day comfort, and resolving long-standing issues with light and dampness.

Clear communication, careful sequencing and problem-solving under constraint were essential throughout the build. The outcome reflects a collaborative process focused on clarity, build quality and delivering meaningful improvements to how the home is used and experienced.

Outcome 

Clovelly House is a measured and well-resolved renovation that demonstrates the value of disciplined construction and thoughtful upgrades. The reworked granny flat now provides comfortable, light-filled accommodation for visiting family, while the ground floor living spaces benefit from improved openness and a stronger connection to the outdoors.

The home now reads as cohesive and refined, offering what the owners describe as a “beach resort” feel — a calm, functional environment that supports family life and entertaining alike.

The project was recognised as a Winner at the MBA NSW Excellence in Housing Awards 2025 in the House Alterations & Additions ($800,000–$1 Million) category. Judges noted the challenging nature of the fitout, the high standard of execution, the quality of the Vitrocsa glazing, innovative site access via the neighbouring school, and the overall first-class workmanship delivered across the project.

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