Designed by Weian Lim, Wala
From the renovating architect:
Owner brief and design response
This home is a contemporary double-storey extension to a semi-detached inter-war dwelling that caters to the growing needs of a large family.
The original period building is one of a pair of semi-detached dwellings with Art-Deco stylings reflecting its inter-war era.
The building sits on a long, narrow allotment 10m wide and 60m deep with a rearward slope falling 4.2m.
The site also backs onto a cricket ground and the Monash Freeway beyond, with northerly winds carrying the sound of traffic to the rear of the property.
The owners’ family had outgrown the original building and their brief called for an extension that could be future-proofed and cater to the changing needs of individual family members, particularly their 4 young adult children.
The design response had to expand on the functional offerings of the old house as well as ensure that any new addition respected the heritage character and scale of the period home, while being a clearly distinguishable yet connected entity.
The new addition fulfils the owners’ brief to have 2 generations of people under one roof while allowing family members to inhabit each space in their own way.
Parents’ and children’s bedrooms are housed in separate buildings connected by a central atrium.
The rear addition responds to the land’s natural fall by cascading a series of tiered living spaces towards the backyard.
Well-positioned openings bring borrowed amenity into the home to strengthen the bond between its inside spaces and out, enriching the quality of living for the family.