Glory DAYS

Thoughtfully revitalised and expanded by its architect owner, this former boarding house in inner Sydney is set to be enjoyed for generations to come.

- Stephen Crafti

STREET FRONTAGE

Restoring this one-time boarding house to a family home was a labour of love for its owner, Sydney architect Joe Agius.

Sydney’s inner city is well known for its genteel 19th-century townhouses and terraces, many of which have been beautifully restored and/or expanded to suit the lifestyle of 21st-century occupants. This 1885 freestanding terrace, the home of architect Joe Agius of Cox Architecture, is a prime example of the value of restoration.

Today, the house looks as lovely as the day it was completed – perhaps even more so. But it wasn’t always the case. “When it was built, the house faced a park and would have enjoyed unimpeded views of the nearby bay,” says Joe. While the bay views have since been built out, the surroundings remain part of the home’s appeal. But the structure itself had become something of a monster over the years. “Like quite a few homes in the area, it was unsympathetically extended in the interwar period and subsequently converted into a boarding house,” he says.

DINING This image and below Owner and architect Joe Agius. Joe made the dining table himself. Dining chairs, Thonet. Artworks by Ralph Kiggel (above mantel) and Mark McCarroll (beside chaise). Le Corbusier ‘LC4’ chaise, Mobilia. Ghanaian basket from Channon Markets. BALCONY The formerly enclosed front balcony was opened up to create a delightful peoplewatching spot. Vintage chairs.