• What are the core features of the home?
The design was based around the existing post war, brick veneer home which was in great condition and . This original portion of the home houses the bedrooms/sleeping areas.
The modern extension to the rear touches the existing home lightly bringing the outside in.
With expanses of glass and a Skillion roof reaching north the light in the space is pretty special.
The separation between the old and new buildings allows for garden space in between, creating a sense of being surrounded by green.
• What makes this home stand out from the crowd?
One of the key features in this home are the towering 3m tall double hung windows facing north. These really flood the living area with sunlight, heating the concrete slab inside. The eave above has been carefully considered and provides shading in the hot summer months to prevent overheating or reliance on air conditioning.
The windows also open from the bottom up bringing the outdoors in and allowing a natural cross ventilation through the living zone.
• What was the brief provided by the owners?
The owner was after some additional space to accommodate the needs of their family.
This included some of the modern comforts including a walk in robe and ensuite to the master bedroom, a multi-purpose room and a renovated bathroom.
These needs were easily met within the context of the existing home with some internal wall modifications.
In addition to the modifications to the existing home the homeowner really wanted an open kitchen living dining zone.
This space needed to be light and bright with a strong connection to the outdoor space and privacy from their neighbours.
Finally the owner wanted a passive design to reduce the need for heating and cooling, and a focus on energy efficiency.
This is what inspired the new addition and contributed so much to its overall success.
Increasing the storage capacity and ensuring bike storage was another requirement. This was achieved through the utilisation of an existing brick garage already on site.
Incorporating this into the design diverted it from demolition and landfill and reduced the amount of raw materials required for the project.