- Project: Darlington Residence
- Architect: David Parsons Architect
- Location: Australia, Darlington, Sydney, New South Wales
- Year: 2022
- Area: 86 m2
- Photography: Katherine Lu
A Compact Sydney Terrace Transformed Through Precision and Light
Amid a row of heritage terraces in Sydney’s inner suburb of Darlington, David Parsons Architect has transformed a modest two-storey home into a refined, light-filled residence that celebrates space efficiency and modern comfort.
The Darlington Residence exemplifies how thoughtful design can reimagine small-scale living. Working within a compact footprint and tight heritage constraints, the architect achieved a complete renewal—balancing heritage sensitivity with contemporary livability.
Concept & Design Approach
When the project began, the existing home was burdened by incoherent extensions and outdated layouts that restricted light and circulation. The client’s brief was clear: create a functional, open-plan home with a new upstairs bathroom, improved connection to the garden, and spaces that could adapt to modern life.
David Parsons approached the project as a strategic exercise in restoration and reinvention. The deteriorated rear extension was demolished, making way for a meticulously detailed two-storey addition that maximized every allowable square metre.
“On such a small site, taking advantage of every square metre mattered,” explains Parsons. “We worked to make each element perform multiple roles — visually, functionally, and spatially.”
Spatial Planning & Flow
The home’s reconfiguration was guided by the principles of clarity, continuity, and light.
-
Upper Floor: A new bathroom was introduced beside the two bedrooms, complemented by a compact study nook integrated into the circulation zone.
-
Ground Floor: The new open-plan kitchen and living area connect fluidly to the rear garden, creating a bright, social core ideal for everyday life and entertaining.
Subtle changes in level and custom joinery define zones without walls, maintaining a sense of spaciousness. The floating benchtop—extending from the kitchen into the living room—functions simultaneously as a media unit and the first step of the bespoke staircase.
The Staircase as Spatial Anchor
The steel-and-timber staircase, suspended from the upper level, is both sculptural and functional. Its finely crafted structure visually links the two storeys while drawing the eye upward, emphasizing vertical continuity within the compact plan.
Above, skylights flood the upper level with daylight, expanding the perceived volume and softening transitions between spaces. The result is a sequence of rooms that feels open yet intimate, united by light and material rhythm.
Materiality & Detail
A restrained material palette gives the house its timeless calm.
-
White-painted walls, ceilings, and joinery enhance brightness and spatial continuity.
-
Dark timber flooring and the staircase introduce warmth and contrast, tying the new addition to the historic bones of the original terrace.
-
Marble benchtops provide a refined, durable finish that complements the minimal design language.
This interplay between light and dark, soft and solid, creates balance and texture in every detail.
Multifunctional Design Philosophy
Space efficiency lies at the heart of the design.
-
The dining banquette doubles as a fireplace hearth and hidden storage.
-
The kitchen joinery discreetly conceals a powder room, maintaining visual clarity.
-
Built-in cabinetry aligns precisely with the home’s geometry, creating continuity between rooms and reducing clutter.
“Every detail had to work twice as hard,” notes Parsons. “In a small home, efficiency and beauty must coexist.”
A Contemporary Renewal of the Sydney Terrace
Through minimal intervention and thoughtful planning, the Darlington Residence transforms what was once a cramped, shadowed dwelling into a serene, cohesive home.
The project reaffirms the enduring value of human-scale architecture—where craftsmanship, spatial intelligence, and light converge to redefine how small urban homes can live.
Darlington Residence by David Parsons Architect stands as a model of small-space transformation in Sydney’s dense urban fabric. It demonstrates how careful detailing, multifunctional design, and sensitivity to context can produce a home of warmth, clarity, and lasting elegance.
This is a residence not about size, but about intention, proportion, and the quiet sophistication of space made right.
