A Wall Of Bi-Fold Windows Open This Kitchen To The Outdoors

Australian firm panda studio architecture renovated a single-storey terrace house in a heritage conservation area for clients who wanted to bring it up to modern standards. The main move is a wall of bi-fold windows that opens the kitchen to the small outdoor space behind it.

A window that folds away

A large black-framed window in the kitchen folds open, so the kitchen countertop meets an outdoor bar on the other side. Food and drinks can be passed straight through.

This set-up allows meals and gatherings to spread across inside and outside, and it makes the kitchen feel bigger than its actual size.

Light and an outdoor table

A glass door next to the window brings in more daylight and leads to an outdoor dining area with a table for six.

The rest of the house

From the street, the house looks like a typical heritage terrace, with ornate wrought iron details on the facade.

Inside, a hallway runs to the back of the house, where the living room, dining area and kitchen are found. The small living room shares its space with the dining area, and a floating cabinet under the TV gives storage.

The bedrooms were also updated with new cabinets and built-in desks. Both bathrooms share decorative tiles with a black geometric shape.

Opening up a small kitchen

As a general idea, a folding window at counter height can link a compact kitchen to even a narrow yard. It gives a serving point and fresh air without the cost of a full wall of doors.

Project credits

• Project: renovation of a single-storey heritage terrace house, Australia
• Architecture: panda studio architecture
• Photography: Bresic Whitney, Daniella Stein Photography
• Source: Contemporist