An award-winning home on the inner-city fringe is being shopped around off-market. Aru House, at 26 Lewis Street, in Maryville, is listed with Mel Payne of Ray White Newcastle Lake Macquarie, less than two years after changing hands for the first time since the 1930s cottage underwent an inspired redesign.
The project won Newcastle architecture firm Curious Practice multiple awards, including the Eva Buhrich Award in the Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions) category at the 2024 NSW Architecture Awards. It also earned national recognition at the 2024 Australian Institute of Architecture Awards.
Taking its name 'Aru' (which means insect) from the language of the Awabakal people, the three-bedroom, three-bathroom house adopts sustainable design with a focus on creating a connection between indoor and outdoor living. Two bedrooms and the main bathroom are at the front of the home, while the main bedroom wing has a Japanese-style sunken bath and a robe with open timber racks.
The bedrooms flow through to the open-plan kitchen, dining and living room that has an exposed brick fireplace and original pine floors. The kitchen has an island bench, with Italian stone and green Japanese glazed tiles to tie in with the earthy hues chosen to reflect the Australian landscape. Design features include an enclosed timber-battened terrace leading from the main living area.
Australian spotted gum features throughout the home, including the windows and large sliding glass doors. Sliding timber panels open to the backyard, which has a magnesium plunge pool, a sunken native garden and a separate studio. Curious Practice architect Warren Haasnoot undertook the redesign of his family home, which was sold in September 2024. Cotality records show the property fetched $1.92 million after 24 days on market.
