Dolores

Built in 1926 as one of a pair of houses, the Dolores Street residence has a distinctive street presence inspired by Charles Rennie Mackintosh’s Hill House. Its complete renovation brings a contemporary approach to the interior and rear of the property while respecting the architectural identity established by the original façade.

The work included excavating into the hillside to create a guest suite and rebuilding the back of the house. These substantial interventions provided an opportunity to reconsider how the home meets its site, introducing additional living space and a more direct connection to the rear yard.

The rear addition takes a modern architectural approach while drawing cues from the original rear façade. A corner folding door system is central to the transformation, opening the kitchen entirely to the garden and allowing indoor and outdoor spaces to function together. With the doors folded back, the kitchen becomes a place between house and landscape, extending daily activities and gatherings into the yard.

The design establishes a thoughtful relationship between the home’s historic character and its new spaces. The distinctive street frontage remains the starting point for its identity, while the rebuilt rear introduces an openness and flexibility suited to contemporary life.