Hill St House | Leichhardt

Winner – Small Lot Housing up to 350m²

Commendation – New Residential Buildings up to 350m²

Building Designers Association of Australia (BDAA) National Awards

Featured in: Winning Design Magazine NSW

This award-winning custom home in Leichhardt showcases how intelligent architecture can transform a compact 327m² small lot into a highly functional and stylish family home. As a Sydney building designer specializing in small lot housing, my goal was to maximize every square meter while keeping the project affordable and sustainable.

Winning the National Award for Small Lot Housing, the design focuses on a refined balance of simplicity and efficiency. The architecture features bold cubic forms and clean lines, with an internal layout that ensures no space is wasted. We prioritized an open-plan arrangement to provide a smooth flow between rooms, which really enhances the liveability of a smaller footprint.

A major focus was creating an energy-efficient home without compromising on the modern aesthetic. By using passive solar design principles and strategic window placement, we managed to bring in generous natural light while maintaining privacy from the neighbors. The restrained material palette keeps the look contemporary and cost-effective. For me, this project is a testament to what is possible on a challenging inner-suburb site when you lead with strong design intent and spatial efficiency.