House of the Month - A Glass Act

Jun 26 10:28am

When an architect took his work home, it led to a huge challenge both personally and professionally, with outstanding results.

Story & Styling Helen Adams Photography Jonny Valiant

The key to creative talent is making something look easy - even when the road has been winding, tricky and steeped in frustration. Architect Mark Ian Jones's home exudes a feeling of space and calm, and is the impressive end to five years of careful planning and technical challenges. The high ceilings, dark paint colours and rich materials of the immaculately renovated Victorian workers' cottage provide a modern, urban retreat from city life. Period charm is effortlessly combined with contemporary living - or at least, it looks effortless, and therein lies the home's airy appeal.

When Mark and his partner were looking to buy their first house, they had only seen a handful of properties before they discovered a two-bedroom cottage in Sydney's inner west. "From the front it was promising," says Mark. "Everything was going well until we reached the back, which was an awful late 1970s renovation. A dining room led into a dated kitchen and bathroom with timber clad walls, which were reminiscent of a Finnish sauna!" This didn't deter Mark, although he still had to convince his partner. "I felt the house had the potential to be made into something specific to suit our needs, as well as a place for me to express my architectural personality," he explains.

Not wanting to rush decisions, the couple moved in and simply painted the back of the house white to get a feel for the space. They lived there for three years before they began reconfiguring the property. "Our aim was to open up the house and make it as light as possible," says Mark.

Now the house is finished, Mark is more than pleased with the results - although he describes the project as one of the most difficult he's ever done. "When you are working for a client, they approve where you're heading with the plans. I spent longer exhausting solutions for the space to ensure we built the right one." After all the hard work, there is no doubt that he has injected his individuality and brought a 100-year-old cottage into the new millennium.

37 Comments Report Abuse

11. persismenon - Jul 15 11:58pm

Not something I would want to live in.... just to look at. How is anyone supposed to live there?

12. belle_essentials - Jul 16 11:24am

Can't sleep with no window coverings....Can't keep the heat in....just escapes through the glass.....Looks light, airy and spacious although small.... but lacks that warm inviting homly feel of a practical down to earth home.

13. say_lard - Jul 22 10:40am

Has anybody who doesn't like this house and calls it 'sterile' ever actually spent time in a white room with a big window? Its the most relaxing, light, spacious, comfortable environment. Sure its hard to keep clean, but a light room like that needs less electricity around dusk/dawn so it keeps your bills down as well Try things before you hate them!

14. liag772001 - Jul 22 03:38pm

Mark Ian Jones has really injected his personality into this house as most architects do whether it be for their self or a client the fact he has the fore site to achieve what he has done is great ,it is a work of his talent love it ,does it for me keep up with the beautiful work (art)

15. teganleighcooper - Jul 23 01:16am

horrible, can someone build me a house with no windows, aaahhh the sunlight, all I can think of is waking up on a sunday morning, with the sun in my eyes looking at that big glass wall, and opps I forgot to close the blinds and the whole neighbourhood just saw me naked

16. ross_bali - Jul 23 06:56am

looks more like an architectural wank than a home, i.e., a home you could live in. I'd be afraid to sleep in the bed, use the kitchen, etc.

17. ross_bali - Jul 23 07:00am

Further, my knowledge of Victorian workers' cottages is very narrow frontages. It's amazing how the camera can deceive. I bet it's still pokey but with high ceilings, not unlike living in a chimney.
Of course he may have bought the one next door and knocked out a couple of walls.
I need space, at least 300 sq metres of living, and the country, not an illusion of space, but real space.

18. blueknightyamaha - Jul 28 10:03am

BLAH! Looks like someone on a very low budget and no taste.

19. crisfer_888 - Jul 31 10:55am

If you are not a minimalist, then this is certainly not the home for you. If you are a person who likes disorder and clutters, the mnore this is not for you. I prefer eclectic style, but I certainly can appreciate something when it is done w/ taste and style. I like my home to have ample lighting like this one, so if I do not want to be seen or have the sun in my face when I wake up, then I will just put some curtain or blinds. If this is the kind of room they have in hospitals, then I would cer