‘Sympathetic modernisation’ a winner in Marrickville

Nominations have been extended until Friday, March 5, for the annual Marrickville Medal, awarded to the best examples of “built conservation” within the Marrickville Council area. Awarded in April, the Medal recognises projects completed within the previous 12 months where conservation, or restoration works enhance the area’s cultural and architectural heritage.

This is the 16th year for the Medal, one of the first local government awards for heritage restoration in NSW. Marrickville Mayor Sam Iskandar said the award aimed to foster a sense of common stewardship in the area’s built heritage. “Large or small, complex or simple, public or private; it doesn’t matter,” he said. “We are looking for architectural work that improves Marrickville’s heritage aspect, whether that’s houses, shops, offices, factories, footpaths, parks, streetscapes… anywhere and everywhere within our municipality.”

Last year’s Highly Commended Award was won by a faithful restoration of an inter-war house at Dulwich Hill. Its owner, Peter Heimanis, said the award helped highlight the viability of contemporary yet sympathetic additions. The house retains its original 1930s art-deco frontage, but features a garden designed to minimise water usage, a modern, energy-efficient kitchen, and tanks which collect rainwater from the roof.

“I believe the project kept the honesty and originality of the initial building,” Heimanis said. “I think what we should strive to do is make our living environment as sympathetic as possible while highlighting what we can achieve with modern materials.”

Last year’s Medal was won by Newtown’s Crago Flour Mill, which was recognised “for its innovative and sensitive transformation from an industrial building to a group of commercial suites aimed at creative businesses.”