Architect: Lume Architects

Stringybark is a project defined by respect for the original architecture and for its future. Originally designed by Alistair Knox, whose homes are deeply loved for their honesty, materiality, and connection to place, this project carries a responsibility beyond simple renovation. The aim was never to modernise for the sake of change, but to respectfully protect the spirit and character of the original home. The exposed lining boards, the flat rooflines, the quiet strength of its form, elements that are fiercely cherished by those who understand their value.

Working closely with Lume Architects, every decision balances preservation with performance. While the original building lacked insulation and was highly vulnerable to moisture and heat loss, the upgrade strategy carefully layers contemporary building science over the existing structure while remaining true to the original architecture. New insulation, airtightness membranes, and ventilation systems are introduced invisibly, dramatically improving comfort and health. Crucially, each intervention has been tested and validated through detailed modelling, ensuring that changes to the building’s physics reduce risk rather than create it. In this way, Stringybark honours Alistair Knox’s architecture not only by keeping it intact, but by giving it the resilience to endure well into the future.