John Normyle has worked and lived in Paddington in Sydney's eastern suburbs since 1974, and has specialised in renovating the suburb's famous terrace houses. In his designs, Normyle blends his love of modernist architecture and desire to create workable modern homes with his absolute respect for historic detail.

What do you enjoy most about your profession?

I like the design side of each project and dealing with really nice clients. I have a spacial eye that just sees how a space can be changed and improved. I love working in context - keeping the old and heritage and mixing that with the modern but keeping it all in scale.

Paddington seems to occupy a special place in your heart, why?

Paddington is one of the largest areas of terrace houses in existence and I love working to keep the heritage and history intact. I love walking around Paddington and soaking in the architecture.

I have a large group of friends here and it’s a unique village lifestyle where people meet and talk and exchange ideas.

Photo: one of John Normyle's designs.

You been working and living in Paddington since 1974, what consistent theme have you noticed in Paddington and eastern suburbs during your years of experience and specialisation in the area?

The creation of cafe led revitalisation. The modernising of terrace houses has been one of the major changes to the area.

The demographic has also changed as the size of Sydney has grown and people want to live near the centre of the city without hours of commuting.

Empty nesters also want to live in Paddington after downsizing when the children leave home.

What have been some of the biggest changes you have seen in your local area, Paddington, since 1974?

More people are staying here with their children rather than moving to the suburbs. They enjoy the lifestyle, the food and shopping.

What do you see emerging as the next trend in design?

Apartment blocks seem to be the next trend in Sydney but Town Houses or Terrace houses should be the future.

But we must protect our terrace houses and not overdevelop them with ugly modern additions.

What trend in your opinion has stood the test of time and still popular today?

Restoring the traditional parts of the terrace house, modernising the rear and adding attic bedrooms to take in the views from the top of the house.

While maintaining the heritage character you have been responsible for conjuring modern comfortable homes for families to enjoy from many a tired Paddington Terrace, which project has been your favourite?

I don’t have one favourite.

I have done many, many houses in Paddington and they have all been special to work on. The ones I love are the ones I have had clients that love working with me, and want to enjoy the process of the design and work on the house.

Image: John Normyle likes to use steel-frame doors, such as the above, in his designs.

What advice would you give young designers today?

Work with our heritage and don’t let a good design overwhelm the fabric of the existing.

Contextual Architectural design is such an important process to go through to create beautiful renovations in the Paddington Area.

What future changes in planning and design for communities and housing in Sydney would you like to see?

Creating more terrace house style communities rather than huge McMansions sitting on blocks of land where no one communicates with each other.

What piece of infrastructure would you want to see to help with the Sydney housing affordability?

Create terrace house areas rather than large estates with big houses. Move the Navy out of Sydney and create a Terrace house area on the headland.

If there were anywhere else in the world you would want to live, where would it be?

In Europe, Rome or Florence.

In Australia, Hobart or Paddington.

Read more about Sydney's Paddington:

Modern Paddington extension respects tradition

Iconic Paddington ‘gingerbread house' near Five Ways is for sale

At $310,000, could this be the cheapest property in Sydney's eastern suburbs?