Glassbook House is a carefully crafted two-storey addition to a Federation-era home in Tempe, Sydney, designed as a sanctuary for reading, reflection, and quiet living. The project turns the simple act of reading into a spatial concept, placing a soaring two-storey bookshelf at the heart of daily life.
Arc. were able to deliver a highly detailed and technically precise build, from the double-height joinery to the custom glass-block facade. The facade is not just a design statement as it brings in filtered light, provides acoustic protection from nearby roads and flight paths, and maintains privacy without sacrificing brightness.
The structural bookshelf integrates beautifully with the existing home, as it incorporates new elements that respect and enhance the original decorative features. A reading nook framed by a feature window punctuates the glass wall, while open mesh flooring and carefully placed voids connect the upper and lower levels with both light and sightlines.
Alterations and Additions
Sibling Architecture
SDA Structure
Katherine Lu
Contrasting features of the build.
Original decorative ceiling retained.
Natural light let in through the two double doors.
Mezzanine mesh allows the continual flow of the structural bookshelf.
FF reading nook.
GF view of the structural bookshelf.
Exposed natural GF rafters contrasted by the stark blue kitchen cupboards.
View out through the glass blocks.
Multi-toned blue bathroom.
Glassbook at night.
The unassuming street view of the home.
Our Impact
Built to Last, Built with Care
We preserved original features of the house, decorative moldings, timber floors, ornate ceilings and only removing a poor-quality rear addition. Replacing it with a new structure built from low-maintenance materials and carefully detailed finishes. The result is a light-filled space built to last with durability, daylight and long-term performance front of mind.
Circular Practice in Action
Rainwater is collected and reused for toilets, laundry and garden irrigation. Timber and brick salvaged from the demolition were reused in the project, like the detailing in the bathroom pictured above. Keeping material in circulation and out of landfill
Light Touch on Site
Existing trees were preserved and only lightly trimmed to optimise light in winter and shade in summer. We protected roots during works, coordinated tight access, and prefabricated components like the metalwork off-site to minimise disruption to the neighbours and the garden..
Efficiency Through Exactness
Critical set-out and off-site coordination allowed us to install the complex rear façade without modification. Nothing excess, nothing discarded just deliberate, accurate building that made the most of every component.
Our Process
Pre-Construction
Early assessment focused on what could be retained, reused, or worked around. Reducing structural intervention and preserving heritage details. We value engineered the build through both strategic retention and thoughtful material selections, directing the budget toward the most impactful parts of the project without compromising quality or architectural intent.
Existing window openings retained.
Existing hallway of the home.
Early Works
We approached early works as a surgical process dismantling rather than demolishing to allow for material reuse and minimise disruption. The lightweight rear structure meant excavation could be kept to a minimum, while retained rooms and heritage details were protected carefully throughout.
Initial days of demolition.
Remedition removal of drummy render and replacement of rotten floor structure.
Structure
The structure was designed to do double duty with elements like the exposed bookcase acting as both feature and frame. The joists installed with joinery precision, left on show, structure and finish delivered in one move. A double-height steel portal was installed with millimetre precision to support the glass block façade, requiring exact set-out and careful sequencing.
Framing of double height structure.
The double height book shelf is also the structure, left exposed.
Enclosure
The enclosure was designed for performance and longevity. A full-height glass block façade filters light while reducing external noise, supported by a wall build-up tailored for acoustic insulation. Low-maintenance cladding and double-glazed units ensure the new addition feels robust, quiet and clearly connected yet respectfully distinct from the existing house.
Glassblock installation determined the set out for for the project.
Fibre cement cladding installation.
Interiors
A bold colour palette and exposed finishes allowed modest materials to shine. We retained and refinished the existing timber floors, while new elements like tiled thresholds and structural shelving were executed with precision to create clean lines and thoughtful transitions between old and new.
Timber floors retained, refinished and preciselt set out to meet bathroom tiles with a flush, cut free transition.
Tiling, joinery, and structure aligned in one clean grid, shelves and cabinetry built directly from the frame.
Aftercare
Years on, we’ve remained closely involved with the home, returning for seasonal maintenance, upgrades, and small improvements. From repainting and electrical tweaks to repairs and system add-ons, our aftercare ensures the home continues to function beautifully, long after handover
Handover to clients.
Maintenance and care of the home after completion.
Recognition
Awards
Publications
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