Barlow
Barlow House is a substantial reconfiguration of an existing double-storey residence in Brisbane, focused on improving spatial clarity and strengthening connections to both front and rear gardens.
The original cellular arrangement is reorganised through the relocation of the kitchen, establishing a continuous open-plan living zone that forms the central organising element of the house.
Floor-to-ceiling glazed openings are introduced at both ends of the plan, extending the interior space visually and physically towards the garden edges and positioning the house as a transitional volume between landscape conditions.
The internal reconfiguration establishes a clear relationship between interior and exterior, with living spaces operating as an intermediary zone between the two garden fronts.
A restrained material palette is used throughout the interior, allowing texture, colour and character to be introduced through furnishings and art rather than fixed architectural elements.
Externally, a hardwood timber screen and upper-level balcony are introduced to the street façade, providing privacy, solar control and a defined entry condition while re-establishing the architectural presence of the house within its context.
Project details
Completed 2018
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Concept Planning
The selected plan configuration establishes a clearer internal structure within the existing building, reorganising previously fragmented and underutilised areas into a coherent spatial arrangement. A series of alternative configurations were tested during the early design phase, each examining different degrees of intervention to the existing layout and its relationship to the front and rear gardens. The final scheme consolidates these investigations into a plan that prioritises spatial clarity, improving circulation efficiency and strengthening the connection between key living areas and external spaces.
Redressing the Existing
Barlow House was a dated "Tuscan style" townhouse that presented the master bedroom to the street. A lack of privacy and a desire to create a contemporary street appeal generated the bold transformation of this Clayfield House.
