Nestled in the heart of Rosebery—a garden suburb rich in architectural character—this project is deeply connected to its surroundings. Originally envisioned by John Sulman as a Model Industrial Suburb, Rosebery is known for its thoughtful blend of detached homes and industrial buildings, creating a neighbourhood where architecture and nature quietly coexist. This design builds on that foundation, respecting the suburb’s heritage while gently shaping its next chapter.

A quiet dialogue unfolds between architecture and landscape. Here, the built form steps back, allowing nature to take the lead. A steadfast Robinia pseudoacacia ‘Frisia’—affectionately known as Mr. Robin—anchors the site, while a sculpted façade of concrete, steel, brick, and timber—Mrs. Rose—wraps around it with grace and strength. The architecture listens. It responds. It doesn’t dominate.

Curved and tactile, the façade follows the land’s natural rhythm—not imposed upon it, but woven into its story. At its core is a philosophy of connection: between past and present, structure and garden, sustainability and everyday life.

The new addition sits quietly within the landscape, layered in texture and materiality. It acknowledges the Cook Pine, the Cabbage Tree Palm, and the Golden Robinia—framing views that invite the outside in. Oversized openings blur the boundaries between home and garden. This is not a statement, but a conversation—a gentle evolution that respects Rosebery’s Federation-era streetscape while looking forward.

Sustainability is embedded in every decision: passive solar design, cross-ventilation, and ethically sourced materials create a home that endures in harmony with its environment.

The design responds to the client’s brief with clarity and care, balancing practical needs with a deep sense of place. The original footprint is reimagined for a young family, where kitchen, dining, living, and garden flow seamlessly. A steel-arched portal marks the transition from old to new—a threshold both literal and symbolic. The front rooms remain grounded and intimate, while the rear opens up in volume and light, revealing a hidden verticality that surprises and delights.

This is a home shaped by memory, by landscape, and by the quiet rhythms of daily life. A place where architecture breathes with the garden, and where past and present meet in quiet accord.

NOMINATIONS

Houses Awards 2025 - Shortlisted: Houses Alterations and Addition under 200sqm

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Cantilever

Landscape Architect: The Garden Social

Private Certifier: Residential Certifying

A House for Grandma is a finely crafted secondary dwelling nestled within a verdant 968m² site on Sydney’s Upper North Shore. Conceived as part of a broader reconfiguration of the primary residence, the project was designed to support multigenerational living with a focus on independence, proximity, and dignity.

 At just 60m², the pavilion belies its compact footprint through the generosity of its spatial planning. A sequence of well-proportioned volumes, calibrated ceiling heights, and considered apertures foster a sense of openness and repose. Views are carefully framed to capture the lush garden setting, allowing nature to animate the interior while maintaining privacy and retreat. The result is a residence that feels expansive yet intimate — a sanctuary embedded within its landscape.

 Materially, the dwelling speaks to longevity and quiet resilience. Recycled brickwork anchors the structure with a tactile solidity, complemented by honed concrete surfaces and a subdued, natural palette. These materials lend warmth and continuity to the architecture, creating a calm and grounded atmosphere that aligns with the client’s desire for enduring comfort and subtle elegance.

 The pavilion’s role within the broader site is both autonomous and connected. While it functions as a self-contained home, it is deliberately positioned in relation to the main house to foster moments of shared interaction. A common entrance and a unified landscape design establish a gentle interplay between togetherness and independence — enabling daily rhythms to intersect without imposition.

 Above all, the project is designed for adaptability. Its plan and detailing accommodate evolving needs — whether for independent ageing in place, visiting family, or future repurposing. It is architecture that embraces change while remaining rooted in context and care.

 A House for Grandma offers a sensitive model for infill housing: one that is compact but rich in spatial experience, responsive to site and circumstance, and deeply respectful of its inhabitants and their changing lives..

AWARDS

Inside Out x Brickworks House of the Year Awards 2023 - Category: Best use of materials: Brick

Grand Designs Australia House of the Year Awards 2024 - Category: Small Renovation

NOMINATIONS

NSW Architecture Awards 2023 - Shortlisted: Residential Architecture Alts and Adds Category

Houses Awards 2023 - Shortlisted: Houses Alterations and Addition under 200sqm

Grand Design Australia Magazine House of the Year Showcase Shortlist Nominee 2024

ARTICLES

The Sydney Morning Herald ‘The Boomers renovating their homes in ‘a kaleidoscope of colours’ - May 2023

Houses Magazine Issue 155 ‘A House for Grandma’ - December 2023

The Local Project ‘Emphasised Warmth’ - December 2023

The Design Files ‘An Unused Garage Turned Sophisticated Granny Flat’ - December 2023

Dwell ‘This Brick Backyard House Doubles as a Sunken Living Room for the Garden’ - January 2024

Tiny House Zone ‘A House for Grandma: A Thoughtful Approach to Multigenerational Living in Lindfield Australia’ - September 2024

Restless Living, Volume 220 ‘A House for Grandma’

IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS

“Natalie Brcar of Brcar Morony Architecture provided us with exceptional professional service for our project from the design and documentation stages right through to construction and property handover (late 2022). Our project involved renovations to the existing house together with an extension to the rear of the property. Natalie’s consultative approach and attention to detail ensured the vision of our project is realised. The outcome of the build speaks for itself and the result is independently attested to by industry awards.”

Patricia.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Cantilever

Landscape Architect: Even Spaces

Private Certifier: City Plan

BUILDER

Cubic Construction Management

The Rose House is a considered reworking of an existing two-storey residence, reimagined to provide sanctuary within an otherwise harsh urban condition. Set within a nondescript cul-de-sac dominated by 1970s apartment car park podiums and the looming presence of the Bradfield Highway, the site demanded a robust architectural response — one that could both shield and shelter, while cultivating moments of calm and connection to place.

A solid masonry façade forms the house’s new civic face — a protective skin designed to buffer the interior from the visual and acoustic intrusions of its surroundings. Evocative of a fortified enclosure, the façade employs a composition of varied apertures, referencing the defensive language of a medieval battlement. These openings are strategically placed to modulate privacy, light, and view, allowing the home to remain engaged with its context without being overwhelmed by it.

The material palette reinforces this duality of strength and warmth. Recycled bricks, many salvaged from the existing structure, are laid in rich, textural courses to bring depth and human scale to the street interface. Blackened steel elements are expressed with purpose — framing openings, forming hoods and thresholds, and contributing to a language of shelter and permanence.

As one moves through the house, the architectural language begins to shift. The weight and opacity of the front façade gradually give way to lightness, transparency and openness. Internal spaces open outward in a carefully choreographed sequence — culminating in expansive glazed walls to the east, where the living room and master suite dissolve into panoramic views of Sydney Harbour.

Here, the architecture is at its most diaphanous. Boundaries between interior and exterior are blurred, and the house finds its release — from enclosure to exposure, from heaviness to light, from urban defensiveness to a quiet dialogue with the landscape beyond.

NOMINATIONS

Arch Daily Building of The Year 2022 Nomination - The Rose House

ARTICLES

Architecture & Design - ‘The Rose House’ - January 2022

Dwell Magazine - ‘ A Knockout Brick Facade Shelters an Airy Home in Sydney’ - February 2022

Arch Daily - June 2023

Ville & Casali - ‘Una casa a Sidney rifiorisce come una rosa’ - December 2023

Restless Living - ‘The Rose House’ - January 2024

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: SDA Structures

Landscape Architect: Mariko Fraser Design

BUILDER

Bradstreet Building Services

Brcar Morony Architecture was commissioned to reimagine a dated ground-floor three-bedroom apartment in Rushcutters Bay, Sydney, for a young family of three seeking a refined yet practical home tailored to their dynamic, executive lifestyle. The brief called for a complete transformation — to shift the apartment from a dark, compartmentalised interior into a light-filled, free-flowing sequence of interconnected spaces, seamlessly extending into a private courtyard beyond.

 Working within a modest footprint, the design prioritised spatial clarity, flexibility, and the intelligent integration of storage and working zones. Existing external walls were selectively removed, and internal openings enlarged, facilitating a continuous visual and physical connection between interior and exterior. This gesture not only amplifies the sense of volume within the apartment but also introduces an abundance of natural light into the core of the home, softening the threshold between indoors and out.

 A restrained and timeless material palette underpins the design, where subtle luxury is achieved through craftsmanship and coherence. Solid American oak floorboards, laid in a traditional herringbone pattern, bring warmth and movement underfoot, while a combination of American oak and white polyurethane joinery adds contrast and texture. Blackened steel frames define new thresholds and openings, lending a quiet strength and rhythm to the interiors. Throughout the kitchen and bathroom, Carrara marble is used with restraint — a nod to enduring elegance without ostentation.

 Joinery was approached with innovation and finesse. Slender-profiled cabinetry elements were tailored to perform multiple functions: displaying, storing, and concealing with equal intent. A custom-designed study desk is cleverly suspended within a former doorway — an adaptable feature that can function as a compact workstation or transform into a service station or display ledge adjoining the dining area. These nuanced insertions support a lifestyle that is at once professional, family-centred, and responsive to change.

 A defining spatial gesture is the introduction of three American oak portal frames, inserted into the newly formed and expanded openings throughout the apartment. These solid timber reveals provide both material warmth and a subtle architectural order — visually linking key spaces while imbuing the interior with a sense of rhythm and quiet grandeur. The result is an apartment that feels generous, open, and highly tailored, with every element considered to support comfort, flexibility, and longevity within a compact urban setting.

NOMINATIONS

Houses Awards 2020 – Shortlisted: Alterations to Apartment under 200sqm

ARTICLES

Sydney Morning Herald Domain - ‘On a lean budget, a 1970s apartment is revitalised by structural change’ - July 2019

Belle Smart Spaces Edition - ‘Light Thinking’ – August 2019

The Design Files - ‘Two Bedrooms Are Better Than Three, In This 1970s Sydney Apartment’ - August 2019

IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS

“Natalie was respectful of our budget, adaptive to our preferences, and flexible to our protracted timetable. She has wonderful ideas and creative solutions to defects and variances that ineviitably emerged. Natalie is a delight to work with and we’re thrilled with the result.”

Christopher.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Chapman Hutchison

BUILDER

Jason McNeilly

Brcar Morony Architecture was engaged to undertake the detailed design development and delivery of this inner-urban residential project, working within the parameters of an existing development approval. The scope involved the demolition of a dated rear portion of the dwelling and the construction of a new first-floor addition, introducing a master suite comprising bedroom, ensuite, and walk-in robe.

A key intervention in the revised spatial arrangement was the introduction of a double-height void positioned above the newly configured dining room. This gesture not only enhances the sense of vertical volume within the heart of the home, but also facilitates a dynamic interplay of light and space. A sculptural plate steel staircase delicately threads through this void, providing access to the upper level while serving as a focal point within the interior.

The newly constructed first floor addition was designed to balance privacy and openness — retreating quietly into the urban fabric while drawing soft, filtered natural light into both levels of the home. Carefully placed openings and glazed elements contribute to a sense of expansion, allowing daylight to animate the stair and dining volumes below throughout the day.

As with all Brcar Morony Architecture projects, the execution focused on refined detailing, spatial clarity, and an enduring material palette — translating the approved concept into a resolved and finely crafted built outcome.

ARTICLES

Design Anthology Magazine - ‘A New Lease on Life’ - June 2019

IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS

“Working with Natalie and Chris Griffin of Burmah Constructions has been smooth & easy with continuous communication...”

Gene.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: SDA Structures

BUILDER

Burmah Constructions

This project entailed the considered transformation of a modest 1960s two-bedroom apartment, previously characterised by a lack of natural light, into an elegant, light-filled residence defined by timeless materiality and refined detailing.

Conceived for a sole executive occupant, the apartment offers a flexible and generous living environment. Spatial planning was carefully orchestrated to accommodate both daily living and occasional entertaining, with the capacity for guest accommodation subtly integrated within the open-plan layout.

A restrained, monochromatic palette underpins a minimalist design language, allowing the architecture and joinery to speak through form, proportion and craftsmanship. Custom-designed storage elements have been seamlessly incorporated throughout, creating a sense of quiet order while amplifying the perception of space well beyond the apartment’s modest footprint.

Strategic removal of non-load-bearing walls, the introduction of concealed sliding panels, and bespoke joinery interventions allow for fluid transitions between spaces. These gestures foster visual and spatial continuity, enhancing connection to the surrounding urban context — with framed vistas to Sydney Harbour, the Harbour Bridge, and the city skyline forming a key compositional element within the interior experience.

ARTICLES

Belle Smart Spaces Edition - ‘Flexi Time’ - Nov. 2016

IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS

“Natalie has great design and management skills. She understood and addressed my needs and project brief entirely.  She delivered an outstanding fit out to my apartment which was on time and on budget. I am delighted to recommend her to you.”

Therese.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Chapman Hutchison

BUILDER

Build by Design

Commissioned by a young executive couple, this project involved the sensitive reimagining of an inner-city terrace house through a series of thoughtful alterations and additions. The design sought to elevate the spatial and functional qualities of the home while retaining its urban character, responding to the constraints and opportunities typical of dense city living.

At ground level, the original rear portion of the dwelling was removed to make way for a more expansive and light-filled kitchen and dining pavilion, seamlessly connected to the rear courtyard. This new volume opens up the house both visually and physically, establishing a fluid relationship between indoor and outdoor living spaces — a vital consideration within a compact urban footprint.

Above, the first floor was extended to accommodate a generous master suite complete with ensuite, along with a well-proportioned secondary bedroom. A new attic-level insertion, accessed via a reconfigured stair core, introduced additional functionality to the home, providing space for a study or third bedroom beneath a newly expressed roofline. A dormer-style window floods this uppermost space with light, offering views over the surrounding neighbourhood while enhancing its liveability.

Daylight penetration was a core design driver. A central void carved through the building allows light from a large overhead skylight to reach deep into the heart of the home, while 3.6-metre-high glazed doors to the rear elevation draw northern light into the living spaces and provide visual relief beyond the terrace's confines.

Storage — always at a premium in inner-urban contexts — was meticulously resolved through the integration of finely detailed joinery. Designed to be both functional and discreet, the joinery supports a minimalist aesthetic while enhancing the home's sense of spaciousness and order.

Materiality was approached with warmth and restraint. The tactile richness of polished concrete and stained hardwood flooring is balanced by the robust character of recycled brickwork and the crisp simplicity of white polyurethane joinery. Together, these elements create a calm, cohesive palette that reflects the clients’ desire for a refined, low-maintenance home tailored to their busy lifestyle.

Project Completed in 2015.

IN OUR CLIENT’S WORDS

"Amazing bespoke work by Brcar Morony Architecture and an absolute pleasure to work with".

Alicia.

PHOTOGRAPHY

Justin Alexander

BUILDER

Irvine’s Building Pty Ltd

Situated in the heart of Ashfield’s Harland Estate Conservation Area on Wangal Country, this modest yet characterful cottage has been sensitively restored and reimagined to honour its Federation-era heritage while introducing a contemporary layer of domestic life. The project is underpinned by a philosophy of restraint — a “less is more” approach that places the original architecture at the forefront, allowing new interventions to support rather than overshadow its historic presence.

The original building envelope and distinctive roof form have been preserved and will undergo careful refurbishment to restore their architectural integrity. Rather than compete with the existing structure, the new rear addition adopts a deferential posture — subservient in scale and discreetly positioned behind the ridgeline of the cottage to maintain its presence within the heritage streetscape. This gesture ensures that the home continues to contribute meaningfully to the prevailing urban character and rhythm of the conservation area, which is defined by a rich layering of housing typologies.

The rear extension introduces a contemporary volume that is finely attuned to materiality, light, and spatial hierarchy. A restrained palette of pale brickwork, blackened steel-framed glazing, and warm timber accents references the tonal qualities of the existing cottage while establishing a clearly legible yet complementary architectural language. The junction between old and new is expressed with care — not as a point of rupture, but as a considered continuation of the home’s narrative.

Internally, the new addition is centred around a double-height void positioned above the kitchen and dining area. This spatial move introduces vertical generosity to the otherwise compact plan, allowing natural light from the north to flood deep into the interior. The result is a sequence of spaces that feel simultaneously intimate and open — where heritage detailing and modern living coexist with ease.

This project offers a measured response to working within a heritage context, demonstrating that contemporary additions can be both respectful and forward-looking. Through modest scale, crafted material expression, and a nuanced reading of site and streetscape, the design fosters a seamless relationship between past and present — a quiet conversation across time that supports the evolving needs of contemporary family life.

CONSULTANTS

Structural Engineer: Cantilever

Commissioned by a young family, this project — approved through Woollahra Council — involved the sensitive transformation of a classic Paddington terrace. Through a series of refined internal alterations and a considered rear addition, the design enhances the spatial, functional, and experiential qualities of the home while maintaining its strong relationship to the urban fabric of Sydney’s inner east.

The street-facing façade and original terrace volume have been carefully retained and restored, respecting the architectural rhythm and heritage of the surrounding conservation area. Subtle interventions breathe new life into the dwelling without compromising its historic integrity, allowing the home to participate meaningfully in the streetscape while accommodating the evolving needs of contemporary family life.

To the rear, the project introduces a new architectural layer, where the original back portion of the house was removed to create a more generous and light-filled kitchen and dining pavilion. Conceived as a contemporary counterpart to the historic front, this new volume expands the home both spatially and functionally. Large openings and slender thresholds enable a seamless transition to the private rear courtyard, reinforcing the connection between inside and out — a vital consideration in dense inner-city living.

Natural light is choreographed throughout the addition, with openings and sightlines arranged to draw daylight deep into the floor plan. The material palette is restrained and enduring, complementing the character of the existing home while providing clarity and calm to the new interiors.

Storage solutions were approached with equal care and rigour. In a compact site where every square metre counts, bespoke joinery elements were integrated throughout the plan to support a minimalist lifestyle and maximise utility without visual clutter. Finely detailed and often concealed, these elements serve a dual purpose — enhancing liveability while contributing to the overall spatial clarity of the home.

This project offers a thoughtful model for heritage adaptation in tight urban conditions — one that prioritises light, flow, and adaptability while honouring the character of place. By balancing reverence for the past with a clear vision for contemporary family life, the home achieves a sense of both continuity and renewal.

A substantial renovation is proposed to an existing Victorian terrace house dating back to 1893, situated within what was originally subdivided as the Toogood Estate in 1881 — now recognised as part of Erskineville, Sydney, on the traditional lands of the Cadigal and Wangal peoples. The design is rooted in a deep respect for the site’s layered history, aiming to sensitively balance preservation with contemporary living.

The primary street-facing façade and original terrace volume are retained and carefully restored, with subtle interventions that breathe new life into the dwelling while preserving its heritage character. Rather than disrupt the rhythm of the historic streetscape, the renovation reaffirms the home's presence within its urban context through restraint and architectural continuity.

To the rear, a new two-storey addition is introduced, deliberately separated from the original structure by a landscaped courtyard and a linking wing. This architectural break serves both as a gesture of deference to the original terrace and as a means to create spatial relief — allowing light, air, and landscape to filter deep into the core of the site. The new addition adopts a subservient stance, its massing consciously scaled and articulated to sit comfortably within the confines of the narrow urban lot and to avoid overpowering the existing built form.

Natural light plays a central role in the reconfiguration of the home. The new massing and placement of openings are carefully considered to invite sunlight deep into the interior, while maintaining privacy in a dense residential setting. Strategically placed glazing and voids introduce vertical and horizontal transparency, drawing light into transitional spaces and animating the interior throughout the day.

Materiality is approached with both contrast and cohesion. A refined palette juxtaposes raw, tactile surfaces with polished, luxurious finishes. Dark timber veneers add warmth and depth, while honed concrete floors lend a grounded, textural quality. Marble accents provide moments of quiet opulence, and face brickwork speaks to the home’s enduring material lineage — creating a dialogue between past and present, rough and refined.

This project offers a considered response to urban heritage renovation — one that values authenticity and restraint, while addressing the practical and emotional needs of contemporary life. Through thoughtful spatial planning, curated light, and crafted materiality, the home is transformed into a layered and enduring place for living — connected to its history, its context, and its future.