Sandra and Thomas have some beautiful art pieces. Sandra always said that we could make her famous if the house was good enough. The challenge was set and we hope we have not made her famous. But we did make them comfortable with spaces of privacy and repose and wonderful walls for their even more wonderful art; particularly the sculptures.

The Thoma House considers the rear of an existing Paddington terrace in a modern idiom. The play of light through the three-dimensional composition of voids vertically cut through the house enhances its liveability in terms of light and space in the narrow building type.

The rear wall of the terrace is articulated to offer a more varied opportunity for living, allowing different levels of light and air penetration into the home at different times of the day and year. This component was considered superior to the now familiar solution of wall to wall concertina doors at the rear of such terraces.

Warm materials such as timber and copper are utilised in this development, allowing the building to be drenched with warm light, which allows for a sense of comfort and place on a human scale. Cross ventilation was achieved through the existing building by virtue of the voids cut through the existing structure.