Pocket paradise

Designed by Alex Urena Design Studio

From the building designer:

Design brief

The brief was to design a self-contained 'granny flat' towards the rear of an existing property, with the purpose of hosting occasional overseas visitors, but most regularly acting as an Airbnb for additional income for the family. 

The studio flat needed to feel independent and private in relation to the existing house. 

Ultimately, the building was required to provide the visitors with a sense of being within their own little oasis – despite the fact that the site is in the middle of a suburban area.

Although the yard is quite large, an existing round firepit area and settled vegetation around it limited the available space for the project. 

The main house's elevated terrace, facing directly into the yard, was also a limitation in terms of privacy to and from the proposal.

The modest-sized abode needed to optimise the site's constraints in pursuit of finding the best possible design solution.

Design solution

The full length of the rear boundary was the designated area to design a long and narrow building in between the rear fence and the existing fire pit area, using existing settled vegetation as a visual barrier for privacy. 

A timber screen and feature recycled brick wall along the side boundary would complete the separation between the new design and the existing house, providing separate access and establishing the full envelope for our proposed 'oasis' at the rear.

With only 33m² of internal space, the building was designed as a studio apartment, with a bathroom on one end, and a bed space only separated from the lounge area by the kitchenette's joinery, with no door between lounge and bedroom – only a consolidated wide path between them.

Long vertical louvers alongside the 'corridor' provide natural light and ventilation, all carefully placed to coincide with the existing vegetation outside. 

Externally, thick hardwood trims on either side of the windows would break the building's longitudinal aspect.

The main access is via the terrace, sheltered by double posts and a grid above with natural hardwood battens, and through sliding doors into the lounge area.

Due to the space's narrow aspect, the design approach was to provide a space entry statement as opposed to a building statement. 

Once the visitors pass the recycled brick wall, they arrive on a beautifully landscaped private space, including an outdoor free-standing bath and outdoor shower amongst the vegetation, and in direct sight from the studio's lounge area.

Story by: Trendsideas