Drill Hall House

The 1905 former army drill hall in Leichhardt, in Sydney’s inner west, has been reimagined as a relaxing home for its new owners.

Combining architecture and interior design elements, our design approach responded to the existing structure and building fabric; the site’s orientation and generous garden; and the owners’ desire for entertaining spaces and private retreat zones.

Although not listed on the local heritage register, we salvaged and restored surviving original details, and removed unsympathetic earlier additions to make way for contemporary insertions.

Now, the historic arched brick entryway provides access directly into the hall, where living, dining and kitchen areas flow together, opening to a sunny terrace. Above this space, two new mezzanine lofts accommodate a guest suite and study, with private terraces set into the roofline.

Downstairs – at garden level – the lower ground floor was entirely rebuilt as the main bedroom suite, and it opens to the newly landscaped large garden and upgraded pool area.