The brief was to renovate an inner-city double-fronted, Victorian weatherboard home for a couple with two teenage boys. The clients requested minor alterations to the existing fabric of the house as well as the addition of new bathrooms, kitchen, living and exterior decking areas. They wanted spaces for the parents and children to both live together and separately and to be flexible as their needs changed over time. They also wanted improved living and entertaining areas and a better connection to the outdoors, but to retain as much of their backyard as possible.

DESIGN DESCRIPTION

Located in a dense inner urban area, the efficient planning of this house has meant that there was an actual reduction in its internal footprint. As an alternative to the large 'box on back' extension, this project looks at how smaller spaces and multifunctional rooms can provide a large family with the space they need, helping conserve resources and reduce carbon footprints.

The existing house has been modified by extruding the double hip roof form to the rear. External timber screens are used to provide flexibility and to allow the living spaces to expand and contract. The screens also protect the house from the busy road at the rear of the property and can be pulled across to shade the house in summer. Built in daybeds and joinery maximise the efficiency of the house and provide places to sit and enjoy the sun.

The clients brief included considerations down to the small details of their daily lives and wanted the spaces made to allow functions to overlap and respond to shifts over time.

Strategies implemented include reducing the size of inflexible spaces such as the lounge, dining and bath rooms. Using screens, moveable walls and doors provide flexibility and adaptability. 

Smaller spaces are made multifunctional by expanding and contracting into other spaces when not in use; the outdoor deck area becomes a second TV room in summer or an extended dining room for entertaining. The kitchen is set up to work as study/library/second living room, with the function shifting depending on the time of day.

The house has also been orientated for maximum solar gain. The pergola and screens provide protection in summer and let winter sun in.  Cross ventilation is considered with high louvres used to vent the house in summer.

The back of the house has been designed as another front, addressing the busy street at the rear of the site, making a contribution to the urban context. The polycarbonate roofing is lit making it glow like a lantern at night. During the day it shimmers like a galvanised roof in the sun. The screens give privacy but also allow the house to open up to rear of the site.

ACCOLADES

BPN Sustainability Awards, Single Dwelling Alterations & Extensions Award Winner, 2012

Houses Awards, Sustainability Award Winner, 2012

Houses Awards, Alteration and Addition over 200sqm, Commendation 2012

PRODUCTS

METAL ROOFING
BLUESCOPE STEEL

TRANSLUCENT ROOFING
SUNPAL, MULTI CELL POLYCARBONATE ROOFING

TIMBER SCREENS
DESIGN PINE, PAINTED TIMBER BATTENS

WOOD COMPOSITE BATTENS
MODWOOD TECHNOLOGIES, MINIBOARD

GLAZED BRICK
EUROA BRICKS, BLACK GLAZED

WINDOWS
CAPRAL ALUMINIUM LTD, 200 SERIES WITH BRIO TRACK

LOUVRES
BREEZEWAY, ALUMINIUM ALTAIR LOUVRES

STONE BENCHTOP
STONE ITALIA, GREIGE GRAIN WITH MATTE FINISH

JOINERY VENEER
NEW AGE VENEERS, SILVERLINE FINELINE

SANITARY FIXTURES
REECE HVAC

TIMBER FLOORING
MESSMATE, WAX FINISH

TILES CLASSIC
CERAMICS

RECYCLED TIMBER BENCHTOPS
MARK TUCKEY

PENDANT (IN DINING AREA)
COCO FLIP DESIGN STUDIO COCO PENDANT

PENDANTS
TUB LIGHTING, FABRIC PENDANTS

LIGHTS
STUDIO ITALIA, BLOWN UP

LIGHTING
RICHMOND LIGHTING, VARIOUS

FIREPLACE
CHEMINEES PHILLIPE AUSTRALIA, DOUBLE SIDED RADIANT 846 FIREPLACE

HEATING
NISSL EICHERT HEATING, HYDONIC HEATING

PLYWOOD LINING BOARD
CARTER HOLT HARVEY, PLY GROOVE

PAINT FINISHES
DULUX