When architect Julian Mitchell was asked to design an addition to his late father David Mitchell’s first home, the result was destined to be personal. The design is a respectful evolution of the 1970s original that David designed and built — one that enhances its function while preserving its architectural spirit. Working with a compact central-city site presented logistical and technical hurdles from the outset. Access was so restricted that all excavation had to be done using the smallest of diggers, with spoil and materials carried by hand or wheelbarrow. The resulting two-storey ‘bathroom tower’ is a triumph of craft and planning. The new vertical addition sits gently alongside the existing structure, clad in timber weatherboards that mirror its materiality.

Inside, the upper and lower bathrooms feature clever spatial solutions, detailed finishing and high-performance insulation. A skylight and timber-framed windows let natural light into every nook, while complex roof geometries integrate seamlessly with the original lines. Detailing and construction were anything but straightforward with multiple roof pitches and tricky junctions requiring custom solutions and expert carpentry. What has emerged is more than an extension — it’s a legacy project, handled with the care and respect such a home deserves.