2022 Newcastle MBA Award - Housing-Granny Flat
This Garage conversion utilises 55 square metres of floor area but easily accommodates a family of 4 with room for a few extra grandchildren in the bunk room mezzanine level, which overhangs a carport area that is also utilised as an outdoor entertaining area. The areas feel much bigger due to the raked ceilings, overlapping of spaces and views into the vegetation outside. The high level windows ensure there is sunlight and sky visible from every area.
Images: Andrew Walley
2020 AIA Newcastle Architecture Awards - Commendation for Small Projects
2019 NSW MBA Award - Housing, Granny Flat $200,000 & Over
"Sally was a pleasure to work with throughout the entire process. She captured the vision for the project beautifully. She was a huge support through the builder selection and DA process which was complex and arduous in my particular case. She was responsive and clear in all communications particularly at stressful times in the process. And the architectural execution speaks for itself.
I'd be very happy to recommend her and her extended team to work on any project that requires something a little different and pays particular respect to the natural surroundings."
Matt Griffin
The Boatshed was designed primarily to provide accommodation for the family boat. But the brief was to also provide a lovely light filled room to accommodate a dining table for entertaining. It was also essential to keep the structure clear of the ‘cricket pitch’ along the water’s edge. This lovely grassy frontage to the Bay has been maintained as is the neighbours view to the water.
"We embarked on a substantial renovation of a dilapidated fibro beach cottage.
Sally expertly guided us through the entire design & build process with the end result exceeding our expectations and the envy of friends and family.
A key factor was the excellent three way relationship that existed between architect, builder and ourselves the owners.
Due to changes initiated by us the "goal posts" were constantly moving. She always remained flexible, accommodating and professional.”
Steve & Rob Anich
Grandview Crescent offers the owners a beachside retreat from city living. The footprint and wall lines of the original cottage have been retained but a new raked roof and ceiling line allows sunlight, views and breezes into the building. The larger expanses of sliding windows and new surrounding decks provides connection to the surround bushland setting.
Images: Matt Darley-Bentley
The office makeover allows Crisp Bros Steel Fabricators the opportunity to display their skills in small scale steel fabrication, in laser cut metal screens and finely detailed joinery. The wall size images celebrate full scale projects and create a focal point for occupants. The white interior contrasts and highlights the existing steel trusses and assist in illuminating the work spaces. The new environment is inspiring for staff and visitors and a relief from the timber veneer 50's fit out of the past.
Images: John McLaine
A safe, friendly and caring environment is the Tillys philosophy. The challenge for the re-adaptation of the original Waratah Rugby Club building was to create small scale child friendly spaces in a large scale, commercial building. The two uses couldnt be more diverse. Yet the building fabric was ideally suited to the purpose. The large open spaces could be divided up into play areas and the surrounding offices, wet areas and kitchen could all be re-used. The complete external wall perimeter has been retained but opened up to natural light, by the inclusion of large window areas. There was very little demolition as a result of reusing so much of the original building; a win for the environment. The surrounding car parking areas have been cleverly transformed into green spaces for outdoor play, creating stimulating playtime for the children and enhancing the outlook for surrounding neighbors. The contribution to the built environment is self evident. But it is the change in the social fabric that is so rewarding for the owners. The adapted building brings youth and vitality to a previously dilapidated area. The staff and owners are thrilled with how the building functions and respond to their needs.
Images: Murray McKean
2007 AIA Country Division Awards, Termi-mesh Timber Award
The brief was for lots of natural light with views to the beach or bush from every room. The timber pavilion is the first stage in a two stage project, where the use of sustainable materials and minimal disturbance to the site was essential. Space was a premium! The internal plan relies on interconnecting and overlapping of spaces. Large areas of external glazing achieves a perception of space by 'borrowing' views into neighbouring gardens. The structure is all recycled ironbark with areas of cedar cladding both externally and internally. The hardwood timber battens provide both privacy and sun protection. The skillion roof opens up to the north to maximize the solar gain and capture views up to the sky.
Images: David Benson
2016 MBA Regional Building Awards, Best Renovation and Addition $500,000 - $750,000
With such amazing beach views it was important to maximise the enjoyment for all areas in the home. The open plan living/dining and kitchen areas are located with connection through from the front deck to the rear entertaining areas. The rear BBQ and spa deck area is protected from the coastal bluster but views are still maximised. The floor platforms and wall lines of the existing brick veneer home were maintained with a new raked roof and ceiling line providing views and sunlight into previously dark and enclosed areas. The new surrounding decks now provide a connection to the beach that makes the owners not need to walk across the road.
Images courtesy of: Integrity New Homes
The Beach House started as an alteration and addition, to an existing house, on a steep and compact site at Killcare. It became clear that the internal planning was limiting the functionality of the rooms and their access to external sunlight. The large family wanted to maximise the northern orientation of the site, which fronted onto the street, but to still maintain privacy and then to open the back of the house up to the ocean views to the south. The solution was to strip the house down to the floor platforms, which would avoid the need for significant below ground cost of construction. The planning was rationalised by adding one single run of stairs on the western side of the site. The four levels then accessed the stairs at various points, with the ability to close them off for thermal control. The top level opens from north to south with northern light that flows through to the open plan Living/Dining area. The result is a light filled home with separate areas for children and adults to all enjoy their beach holidays.
Images: Brigid Arnott
The existing holiday cottage had all the charm of a previous era but did not take advantage of the special site in which it was located. The cottage presented to the street but turned its back on the delightful rear garden and creek. The brief was to increase the floor area by adding new rooms that celebrated the location. There was also a desire to lighten the whole cottage by bringing sunlight back into the existing rooms. A new contemporary style addition was connected to the rear of the cottage. The floor level was set down and the roof lifted up to create a sunlit living area opening onto entertaining decks, which overlook the garden. The relaxed holiday feel of the original cottage still exists with all the benefits of the newer addition.
'No more than six steps in a flight' for the internal stairs was the brief this client gave for a very steep site on Hardy's Bay. With a swimming pool, five bedrooms and large open plan living and dining area this was a challenge. The result is a linear plan where each floor is separated into split levels, with no more than six steps in each flight. The new building replaces an old cottage set low down on the site. The new house is set higher up on the site, maximizing the views over the bay, and has an intimate relationship with the bush and escarpment behind.
Rutherford Child Care is the first centre by Tillys Play and Development in a light industrial area. The centre provides much needed care facilities for parents working in the local area with the option for overnight accommodation for children of shift workers. The centre is light and airy for the occupants but protected and secure from potential noisy neighbours. The building was located as close as possible to one boundary, which is where the offices and ancillary areas are located. The playrooms are then given the maximum separation to the other neighbour with a large play area between. The centre accommodates 174 children in 8 playrooms. Combined with all the associated wet areas and ancillary spaces this results in a large floor area. By using smaller scale rooms with standard ceiling heights and a neutral colour palatte the playrooms feel more domestic than institutional. The children and parents feel very much at home.
Images: Murray McKean
"Sally's vision and experience has resulted in a house we are totally thrilled with. Her design features enhanced the mid-century modern aspects of the original house and gave it a new lease on life... enabled us to bring the project in on time and on budget.
I would not hesitate to recommend Sally Morgan."
Simon Harper
The original 50's style cottage had a charm of its own that the owners wanted to maintain. To avoid disturbing these original proportions a new pavilion was added to the side of the cottage with a connecting link. This pavilion is a parents retreat that allows the owners to feel independent but still within reach of their young family. The pavilion can be closed off if the house is used by visitors. The new laundry, bathroom, kitchen and decks to the existing cottage have made it more functional and in keeping with this beachside holiday retreat. The home now offers the owners a more relaxed experience that takes full advantage of the ocean views, sunlight and bushland setting.
Images: Colin Charles
