A hidden Newtown home designed to reveal itself slowly – balancing efficiency, softness and surprise in equal measure.
Tucked down a narrow laneway in Newtown, Restricted Section has no street frontage – just a quiet presence within the suburb’s historical fabric. The home’s reveal was key: approached gradually, it unfolds through a forecourt into the home and beyond to a light-filled courtyard, offering a layered, deliberate sense of discovery. We embraced modulation, lift, and programme hierarchy as design tools, but it was the subtle experience of moving through the space that became the project’s heart. We also explored new construction methods, using structurally insulated panels (SIPs) to create a highly efficient, modular home. The challenge was balancing the raw, honest nature of SIPs with moments of softness and warmth. The result is a home that feels grounded, precise, and quietly unexpected – one that respects its context while standing apart.