Fresh face

One of the biggest conundrums facing a homeowner can be whether to remodel or tear down. 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 utilized a single-skin veneer with little actual insulation. This made the house incapable of passively regulating solar gain.

"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 plastered finish was deliberately kept light to aid in heat reflection," says Quinlan.

Deep overhangs on the facade most exposed to the sun, and 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.

"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