![Trouton Street Addition](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-1.jpg)
Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects
This extension to a family house with marble brise-soleils on the rear façade in New South Wales, Australia, is by Australian practice Carter Williamson Architects.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-4.jpg)
The house is a new addition to an existing timber cottage, which could not be removed from the site.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-1.jpg)
The original cottage sits in front of the new structure and is connected to it by a little covered courtyard area.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-2.jpg)
At the back of the house a concrete framework provides shading from the east and west, with horizontal marble slabs slotted in between.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-17.jpg)
On the ground floor, a large tri-fold glazed door extends the open plan living space out to the garden.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-3.jpg)
A bedroom, study, library and bathroom are located on the first floor.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-12.jpg)
Photographs are by Brett Boardman.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-10.jpg)
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![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-9.jpg)
The following information is from the architects:
The brief was to bring light into our clients’ home and their lives.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-8.jpg)
Their old home was Victorian, dark and periodically tight and depressing. It was little changed when we got it.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-7.jpg)
The original house on the site is an 1860s timber cottage sourced, sawn and constructed from local timber.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-11.jpg)
A L+EC ruling had virtually made it a heritage item, which came with court-defined planning concessions.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-13.jpg)
The design is for a new building to sit sympathetically behind and recessive from the original cottage.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-14.jpg)
The new building touches the old through a light, small connection that locates a gothic-like courtyard and the front door.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-5.jpg)
The square ground floor houses the kitchen, living and dining rooms.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-7.jpg)
Large voids puncture the upper level plan, organising the space between bedroom, study and library.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-8.jpg)
The voids spatially organise the ground plan defining the kitchen, dining and circulation.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-15.jpg)
The rear facade is a composition of light and shade.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-6.jpg)
Strong off-form concrete blades attenuate east and west light, while marble horizontal louvres control northern light.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-3.jpg)
The formal rhythm of the vertical blades are offset by the playfulness of the horizontal louvres.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-16.jpg)
A roof garden hides the garage and defines an amphitheatre to the living room.
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-6.jpg)
Team Architect: Shaun Carter
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Balmain-House-by-Carter-Williamson-Architects-9.jpg)
Designers: Patrick Fitzgerald, Mattia Fiumani
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-19.jpg)
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-18.jpg)
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-5.jpg)
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-20.jpg)
![Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects Balmain House by Carter Williamson Architects](http://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/12/dzn_Trouton-Street-Addition-21.jpg)
See also:
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