Terry Wilson showed Don around his inner city home. Although the house is very small (5m x 28m), its clever design makes the best possible use of available space.
Originally a 1950s warehouse, the property was used as a boxing gym in the 1960s and then a warehouse again in the 1980s. In 1999-2000 it was converted into a two-bedroom dwelling with off-street parking. Although it looks quite modern from the outside, the facade is heritage listed and was not altered to any great extent. The top window with bay doors was originally a barn door with a rope and pulley winch for lifting and dropping goods.
Home highlights
A storage pod divides the garage from the living quarters. This large bank of cupboards has deep shelving to store power tools and miscellaneous items.
In the media room, hinged doors fold right back to reveal a home office, an entertainment system and storage shelves.
The stairwell, which features louvred glass and open tread stairs, is designed to draw a maximum amount of light into each of the rooms without compromising privacy. A potted black bamboo grows up through the stairwell right to the roof, while relaxing sounds of bubbling water come from a nearby water feature.
The two bedrooms and bathrooms are identical and stacked on top of each other. The first bedroom is hidden behind the stairwell on the ground floor. Glass bricks on the western wall allow natural light to enter the room, whilst providing privacy and diffusing the heat of the western sun. The cupboards in this room contain the linen press. The first bathroom runs off this bedroom. All of the plumbing, including the cistern, is concealed in the walls with easy access panels.
The upstairs bedroom is identical, however this storage area contains the laundry.
The deck is the heart of the house. The sliding panel glass doors can be fully opened to create an open space in the living area, or remain closed to provide natural light while still allowing a sense of openness in the room. Four pots of mondo grass make up Terry