Drawing from its rich past, the new owners navigated various heritage overlay restrictions to arrive at a series of insertions and interventions. The balancing of keeping key details and a formality in planning, while also opening and creating a connected interior, was key to the overall reimagining. In a matching of generosity to the site itself, the interior passageways feel lofted and wide, allowing for more framed transitions between spaces instead of feeling separated. Through a muted yet warm base palette, a recessive feeling of retreat and removal from the bustle of the city are felt once inside.

Referencing the Georgian era stylings throughout, integrating and reinterpreting these hand-crafted moments together with the new required an appreciation of their charm. Iconically, the exterior remains its original pink colouring, with its bold red door signalling entry, while other details such as the terracotta tiles in the sunroom have been restored and reinstated as a offering of preservation. As the home spreads over three levels, its containment within the original outer fabric feels modest, and in the restraint to not expand outward into the landscape ensures a core of integrity remains.

As part of the new works, a additional sub-terranean floor is created below the ground level, adding additional lounge and breakout space for the family. Both in wanting to capture a moment in time, and how homes are occupied today, there is an underlying consideration of flexibility that drove the works. With a growing family, allowing for flexibility and breathing room was vital, as was keeping the garden as its own destination. As a softening of the transition between the interior and exterior spaces, arched windows play a role in shaping movement and refining framed views from within.

An artful integration of collected pieces are then interwoven amongst the newly acquired. As a gesture of sustainability, Rosetta curates vintage furniture, avoiding excessive waste and allowing an already storied piece to then be added to, with a new chapter and new owners. The openness and permeability of the façade allows cross-ventilation, and the abundance of natural light reduces a reliance on additional energy sources. Throughout, all lighting introduced is decorative, sitting snug to the ceilings to ensure the views and connections outward remain the focus. Wanting to preserve as much of the original plaster ceilings as possible, an avoidance of additional architectural lighting drove this process.

Dedicated to both lessening an overall impact ecologically and to the retention of the past narrative, Rosetta comes together as a respectful reshaping. Encouraging moments of coming together, and those of remaining apart, the program that underpins the home facilitates the needs of a young gamily, without needing to compromise on a sense of personality and expression.