This project involves a detached dual occupancy on a steeply sloping, bushfire-prone site in Mount Ku-ring-gai, within the Hornsby Council local government area. The scope includes alterations and additions to two existing dwellings: a mid-century Pettit & Sevitt house and a 1920s brick veneer cottage.

The design approach is grounded in working with the land rather than against it, carefully responding to the site’s fall, vegetation and bushland setting. Rather than demolishing and rebuilding, both homes are retained and thoughtfully adapted, allowing their distinct architectural character to remain legible while improving functionality, amenity and long-term performance.

The Pettit & Sevitt home is sensitively reconfigured to strengthen internal connections, improve access to light and landscape, and maintain the clarity and restraint typical of mid-century design. The 1920s cottage was upgraded and extended with new elements that are clearly contemporary yet respectful of its original scale and form.

Arranged as two detached homes, the development achieves a balanced dual occupancy outcome that feels calm, considered and appropriate to its setting. The project demonstrates how gentle density can be achieved on complex sites through adaptive reuse, careful planning and a deep understanding of context.