Carthona House by Daniel Boddam Studio turns a contemporary lense to the extension of a Federation home in Sydney’s Mosman, with an artisanal and elemental sensibility that speaks to the rituals of Australian living.

Seeking to create a breathable, light-filled and beautifully detailed addition, the studio sought to balance indoor/outdoor living with a sense of privacy and retreat. The planning decisions revolved around maximising the clients’ lifestyles, maintaining a sense of comfort, ease and flexibility conducive to family life, while employing a sympathetic approach that respects the historic legacy of the house. Boddam’s curiosity in the dualities of form inspired a ‘complement by contrast’ approach between old and new. The traditional qualities of Federation-style frontage are boldly counterbalanced by the striking blackened silhouette of the extension.

Informed by Brazilian modernist architecture, with which the client has a deep connection, “the extension has been designed as a crafted lantern”, says Boddam. “The facades open and close as breathable skins allowing for sunlight or shadows, privacy or connection”. Open volumes and voids allow dappled, dancing light to be cast through the interior, tethering the experience of home to natural circadian rhythms; a poetic and resonant quality. A narrow courtyard defines the junction between old and new, giving breathing space between the two residential expressions. Stepped down from the original home, the extension enjoys immediate access to the garden, creating a sense of living within the landscape.

Internally, the principal living spaces embrace a warm and relaxed tone. Luxe, hand-crafted materials come together with expressed bagged brick walls and charred timber cladding offset by the crisp articulation of a honed marble and matte lacquered cabinetry.

Upstairs, a private sanctuary offers district and city views, with operable Yakisugi charred screens opening the interior to the elements. The garage roof is topped with a pebbled succulent garden, creating a pleasant outlook from the master suite and encouraging wildlife to interact with the architecture.

Throughout, spaces are thoughtfully composed to celebrate the elemental experiences of living, bathing, dressing and sleeping. While the palette is intentionally restrained, subtle nuances create curious moments of grain and tactility, with a focus on the hand-crafted and artisanal.