The Wing at Lisarow

The original Lisarow home had a compact floor plan that worked well for two people but could not accommodate the growing family's needs. They wanted two additional bedrooms, a second living area, an outdoor deck and a swimming pool, all without overwhelming the existing house or the modest suburban block. The solution was a single wing extending from the eastern side, connected by a glazed link that preserves the original house's identity while clearly marking where old meets new.

Clerestory windows run the length of the new wing's roofline, ensuring that every room receives northern light regardless of where it sits in the floor plan. This was essential because the wing extends perpendicular to the original house, which meant some rooms would be shaded by the existing structure in the morning. The high level windows solve this by catching light above the roofline and directing it downward into the spaces below.

The two new bedrooms are positioned at the far end of the wing, giving them quiet separation from the main living areas. Between them and the existing house, the new living room opens through sliding doors onto a timber deck that wraps around to the swimming pool. The pool sits in a sun pocket on the northern side, sheltered from the prevailing winds by the wing itself. On a warm afternoon, the family can move from living room to deck to pool in a natural sequence that feels effortless.

I paid particular attention to how the wing connects back to the original house. The glazed link acts as a transitional space, part corridor and part display area, where the family has placed artwork and plants. It means you are always aware of passing from one building to another, which gives both the old and new sections their own distinct character rather than blurring them into one undifferentiated mass.