The 'Small House' is on the market, and on the rise

When arithmetic meets architecture: turning a 46sqm car spot into a an award winning 200sqm home.

In 2010, architect Dominic Alvarro bought a couple of car spaces the Sydney inner suburb of Surry Hills, at 8 Belmore Lane. In just over a year the spot, measuring just seven metres by six metres was to draw the attention of the world’s top architects, and with it multiple awards including the 2011 International House of the Year Award.

The creation of the home was well documented during the very first series of Grand Designs Australia, where viewers were able to realise the passion and the persistence required by the visionary Alvarro in building his home.

The remarkable, famous, and rather monolithic ‘Small House” as it has become known, is still at its core a home. A wonderful, vertical arrangement of superb spaces that leads visitors from street level, past living and kitchen levels, to the summit; the glorious rooftop garden.

In that passing, many features are revealed such as the Italian marble bench top and European appliances. But at least on first viewing, people climb the stairs fast, heading for the summit.

It is often referred to as a ‘vertical apartment’, with each room allocated its own level - but every level bathed in light and offering a collage view of inner city life.

In basic terms this is a one bedroom, two bathroom, one car garage home - but it is so much more, and may in fact physically become more with an approval in place for yet another , 5th, level designed to encompass a third bedroom and third bathroom - and of course a new 6th floor garden terrace.

With space in Surry Hills even more scarce than when the property was first built, James Peach, Director of Ray White Taylor and Partners, and Gavin Rubinstein of Ray White TRG believe the market for this home is even hotter than during previous campaigns.

“It would make a most remarkable pied de terre for executives,” said Mr Peach. “As well as a particularly smart investment, with current rentals rates in the $2,100 per week range.”

The home will go to auction at midday on November 30, with a guide of $2.6m