Architect Alexander Symes lists Blackheath retreat Up-Cycle House

Architect Alexander Symes has listed his environmentally minded Blackheath retreat, dubbed the Up-Cycle House.

The Blue Mountains house restoration at 12 Waragil Street was driven by the philosophy of instead of demolishing an old home which has 'reached the end of its lifecycle', it can be 'up-cycled'.

Glebe-based Alexander Symes up-cycled the house, influenced by Scandinavian design, to create a sustainable and functional design and living.

The sculptural entrance of the house is accessed via railway sleepers and the floor throughout the house is a colourful mosaic of tiles. 

Modern House agency have a price guide between $575,000 and $595,000.

The modest house in the Blue Mountains cost Symes $200,000 in 2008 using the First Home Owner Grant.

"The existing building’s shortcomings included its thermal envelope and the relationship between indoor and outdoor spaces, and it needed a lot of maintenance and care," he noted.

Over the course of eight years, Symes, with assistance from family and friends, handcrafted the aging dwelling into an up-cycled three-bedroom, two-bathroom family home that explores best practice in sustainability.

His philosophy for the home was simple. If it ain't broke, don't fix it; if it is broke, fix it with recycled materials that explore best practice in sustainability.

The 104 square metre freestanding home on a 417 square metre parcel has three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a rear fire-pit entertainment area.

A large open-plan living space runs the full width of the house

The structure is predominately insulated brick with a flat metal roof and incorporating eco technologies as architectural features.

The Solar pergola at the entrance provides shelter and generates power from the 1 kilowatt grid inter-tie porto-voltaic system.

Symes says he seeks a poetic approach to how an environment is experienced.

With over 12 years experience working previously for practices including Arup, including an Austinmer beach house.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Telegraph.