Modern kitchen opening to outdoor patio with a white sofa, wooden cabinets, and a stainless steel stove, surrounded by tall bushes and trees.

SURRY HILLS HOUSE

Surry Hills, NSW
2010
Andrew Schultz, ASA Architects
Modern
HIA Finalist

Location:
Year:
Architect:
Style:
Awards:

Surry Hills House is a renovation of a narrow inner-city terrace, transforming a previously dark and constrained dwelling into a light-filled and highly functional home.

Working within a 4-metre-wide footprint and under strict council constraints, the project required a highly strategic approach to space. The rear of the house was excavated to enable the addition of a new bedroom and bathroom at the upper level, while the original front rooms were retained to preserve the existing structure.

A central intervention defines the project. A light well and staircase were introduced at the core of the house, allowing natural light to reach every room and maintaining the full width of each space. Louvres positioned at the top of the light well support natural ventilation, reducing reliance on mechanical cooling and improving overall comfort.

The existing staircase was removed and replaced with an open, on-site-built timber stair, conceived as both a functional circulation element and a crafted architectural feature. This move not only improves safety and usability, but also enhances the spatial connection between levels and allows light to penetrate deep into the plan.

Despite the tight urban site and limited access, the project was delivered through careful planning, coordination and precise execution on site. Each intervention was resolved to maximise usability while maintaining clarity and coherence throughout the interior.

The result is a compact yet generous terrace house — where light, airflow and spatial efficiency are achieved through considered design rather than expansion.

Modern house with a courtyard, featuring a tree, outdoor table with chairs, and large windows.
Modern house with a patio, outdoor seating, tall trees, and illuminated landscaping at dusk.
Modern kitchen with white countertops, wooden cabinets, stainless steel stove and range hood, and a sink. Looks out onto a small outdoor patio with greenery and outdoor seating.
Modern kitchen and dining area with white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, wooden upper cabinets, a dining table with chairs, and a large window/door leading to an outdoor patio.
Modern living room with white walls, hardwood floors, a wall-mounted flat-screen TV, black armchairs, a white lounge chair with matching ottoman, framed artwork, large windows with sheer curtains, and decorative plants.
Modern living room with black sofas, glass coffee table, large window with greenery outside, staircase with wooden steps, hardwood flooring, and artwork on the wall.
Modern open-concept kitchen and patio with white and wooden cabinetry, stainless steel appliances, a white couch, and outdoor seating facing a landscaped garden.
Interior view of a modern stairway with wooden steps and a handrail next to a glass wall with a large potted bamboo plant, leading to a skylight ceiling.
Bright bedroom featuring a bed with black and white bedding, a yellow nightstand, a white chair, a large window, and a textured blue and green wall hanging.
A modern bedroom with white walls, a bed with white bedding and two green pillows, a wicker storage box, wall-mounted lights, a fireplace, a decorative mirror above the fireplace, and a flat-screen TV on the wall. There is a doorway leading to a hall
Interior with wooden staircase, white walls, and hardwood floor, natural sunlight coming through a window.
Interior view of a staircase with wooden steps and a light wood handrail, leading up to a second floor with a window allowing natural light to illuminate the space.
Wooden staircase with a curved wooden handrail and white wall panels, viewed from the top looking down.
Close-up view of a wooden stair handrail attached to a white painted support post, with stairs visible in the background.
Wooden stairs leading to a bright hallway with a white chair at the end.