Inner House
Wed, 28 Oct 2015
Kim and I just can't say no to a church renovation. Such a tricky thing to pull off though. Often the domestic overwhelms its ecclesiastical shell. Weird rooms, cut off windows, the twee of everyday life competing with the gravity of a former place of worship. A desire to leave the existing building untouched drove the design of the Inner House by Bates Smart.
"The Inner House is a single dwelling constructed in the 1926 First Church of Christ Scientist in East Sydney. The House is erected on a platform built over the raking floor with a pair of two storey cubes flanking the volume. These spaces contain sleeping accommodation and ancillary facilities whilst the central space provides living and dining areas. The concept is derived from the formal geometry of the volume, its austerity and the temporary nature of the new structure."
Reader Comments (2)
This building is very intriguing from the outside, it is commercial in size, as the exterior photo indicates, in a busy part of inner city Sydney, with art installations and some plantings that suggest something different to its original purpose. I understand that the owner sometimes allows organ recitals to be held using the churches original organ.
What a wonderful building and I do like the history of it. My great grandmother was always interested in religion .. trying them out .. She spent some time as a Christian Scientist .. I love the Buddha sculpture.