Facebook Tweet Help Stories Renovation Fresh face Share Tweet Help A new facade has not only given this home a contemporary air, it has created a more family-friendly living environment View of contemporary white home. One of the biggest conundrums facing a homeowner can be whether to renovate or detonate. While the first impulse may be to make a fresh start, taking a second look at an existing property can have benefits, not least of which are financial.For the owners of this property, a growing family was one of the reasons for wanting to begin again. Another was that the original structure and layout failed to provide a comfortable living environment, says Justin Quinlan, managing director at Archengine."The existing property was typical of its era, in that it utilised a single-skin veneer with little actual insulation. This made the house incapable of passively regulating solar gain. Before picture of a house. "With this renovation we were able to address that issue in a number of ways. We started by creating a double-skin veneer, with insulation to both layers. Next, all windows were replaced with double glazing, and the rendered finish was deliberately kept light to aid in heat reflection," says Quinlan.Deep overhangs on the north-facing facade, as well as cut-ins on the east and west facades help mitigate solar gain.Internally, the house has become more open plan downstairs. The configuration now includes better access to the rear yard for a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Before picture of a house. "In all aspects, the new structure affords a better quality of living," says Quinlan. "A high level of design integrity has been achieved, and the end product has resulted in a 40% saving to the client over the proposed new-build project." Story by: Trendsideas 15 May, 2011 Renovation Trendsideas Home kitchen bathroom commercial design Latest Post Natural is always in style 21 Apr, 2024 Lean and green 21 Apr, 2024 Stretching out to nature 21 Apr, 2024 We know the Specialists Related Book More Books > Home Trends Vol. 27/7 NZ2707 Read More Similar Stories