Modern architecture inspired by flexible family life is at the heart of this Sydney home designed and owned by an esteemed Australian architect.
Current homeowner, director, and global design leader at renowned architectural practice Woods Bagot, Domenic Alvaro crafted this treasured home in the leafy Sydney suburb of Lilyfield. Designed for his wife and their two young children, the urban dwelling offers a contemporary connection with the outside world while elevating the daily rituals of life.
We sat down with Domenic to understand the home’s design sensibilities and distinctive architectural features and to discover what makes this inner-west neighbourhood one of Sydney’s best-kept secrets.
In partnership with BresicWhitney
Where is your home located, and what do you love most about your neighbourhood?
The home is located in Lilyfield, a gorgeous green suburb in Sydney’s inner west. Our family were drawn to the local parks and amenities and to the character single-story early-20th-century cottages. Our street is one of the widest streets in Lilyfield, lined with beautiful crepe myrtles. You can see the harbour bridge from our street, so there is this incredible, elevated view back towards the city. Spacious parklands and a beautiful bay also surround it.
One of the best aspects is this location’s convenience, and I think our property is one of the best-kept secrets in the inner west. You can travel into the city in just seven minutes. With the City West link nearing completion, it will provide central access to greater Sydney in just minutes – or a short stroll to a light rail stop at the bottom of our street makes going into the city seamless.
How would you describe the architectural style of this home and how does the interior make you feel?
The property is an essay on future heritage using traditional materials. I have curated a home that sits sympathetically in the street while providing a low-maintenance and exceptionally liveable place to be.
Upon entry, the space exudes a welcoming atmosphere, inviting you to explore further with a view through the living, courtyard, and studio beyond. The interior has a rhythmic aspect whereby the sunlight is perfectly captured throughout the day, providing warmth and serenity.
An architectural fusion between high-end design and family functionality allows for a pull-down bed, built-in joinery, concealed walk-in laundry, and considered storage, all contributing to the flow and ease of everyday life.
“Our intention was to maximise the livability and breathing space of the home in a way that seamlessly blends the inside with the out.”
– Woods Bagot Director Domenic Alvaro
Has the home undergone any design interventions while you’ve lived here? If so, what has informed your approach?
I have aimed to design every facet of this home through a thoughtful and meticulous lens. We intended to maximise the livability and breathing space of the home in a way that seamlessly blends the inside with the out. From the entry, the living room looks out through a framed window where the frangipani tree outside casts a dappled light. This multi-functional space doubles as a guest room at night with a fold-down bed neatly concealed in the smoked oak wall panelling.
The home follows the site’s sloping topography to a powder room and staircase, which leads to the open kitchen/dining space, and further down to an oversized large family room that overlooks the outdoor courtyard.
Clever joinery plays a key role throughout the home. Cabinetry along the stairway leads to the three bedrooms, while the kitchen runs the entire length of the main living area. On the opposite side, a slender skylight lines the length of the house, further expanding the sense of space and filtering in natural light.
The main living space has full-height sliding glass doors by Vitrocsa that lead out onto the courtyard, with its plunge pool and lush greenery all within view. Bookending the site is a timber-clad garage with an upstairs studio that looks out from a feature window.
Describe how the layout works within the unique footprint of the property.
The home’s layout has been carefully considered to maximise the flow of spaces throughout the property, such as the large sliding doors that seamlessly connect the interior to the landscaped courtyard, pool, and beyond to the separate studio. Designed to expand the viewpoints at every opportunity, the home’s vertical height offers an airy and spacious feel.
Is this home’s design sensibility a reflection of your work at Woods Bagot?
Drawing on thirty years of design experience, there is a culmination of knowledge and expertise that ensures that the design of our home offers a truly exceptional living environment where aesthetics and functionality coexist. Of course, coupled with this, I have passionately crafted a home for my family, who are probably the most challenging clients!
Can you speak to the material palette/composition featured in the home?
The palette captures a timeless yet sophisticated feel by combining rich, dark natural timbers with oak floors. Expansive gallery-like walls, including full-height panel timber veneer and luxurious Italian porcelain stone walls, feature in the wet spaces. A central, steel-lined staircase offers a modern and durable industrial edge.
Is there a particular area or space within this home that you naturally gravitate toward the most?
Cooking is a passion of mine, and so the open-plan kitchen space commands the living room too. It’s a great space with everything integrated alongside an ample pantry and preparation areas, making it perfect for entertaining. We love to hang out at the island bench as we prepare meals over a glass of wine and music.
“Drawing on 30 years of design experience, there is a culmination of knowledge and expertise that ensures that our home offers a truly exceptional living environment where aesthetics and functionality coexist.”
– Woods Bagot Director Domenic Alvaro
The ribbed steel form of the Vieques bathtub designed by Patricia Urquiola hints at an industrial heritage.
“One of the best aspects is this location’s convenience, and I think our property is one of the best-kept secrets in the inner west.”
– Woods Bagot Director Domenic Alvaro
The studio in the rear is self-contained, with a powder room and kitchenette. Its generous, north-facing windows make for a great studio or working-from-home space.
