Image Credit : Emma Cross
Project Overview
Deco 'Swellegance' juxtaposed with a practical and constructed approach was required to continue the life of this house with a new occupant. The 'swellegance' was retained and enhanced with richly stained joinery to the interiors. The practical and 'constructed' approach was used in the reduced footprint to maximise connections with the external garden areas with a new deck and ‘folly.’ Such a reduction equally required some clever solutions to create a more with less within the house. Reconfigured arrangements within the house, new plywood cabinetry and built in bed units provide valuable storage and a new flexible and open family lifestyle.
Project Commissioner
Project Creator
Team
Kim Irons, Finley Myers, Susan Anderson, Louisa Drent
Project Brief
Located on a small site and with a budget challenged by extensive repair and restoration requirements, this 1940’s dwelling has been reduced from a house which seemed too small to that of a more spacious home with less.
The original house was juxtaposed between the simple and practical yet with aspirations to ‘swank.’ Downplaying any ‘middle class’ qualities, the client demanded a response of understated restraint with an edge of nuts-and-bolts construction. The response was to retain and enhance the ‘swellegant’ spaces while refitting it with new and practical materials which enhanced the existing. Energy efficiency and storage capacity was to be maximised with spaces that provided a flexibility for more open and interactive lifestyle with the family, linked to the garden and enhancing the inherent qualities of the dwelling.
Project Need
The dwelling accommodates more program in less. To the ground floor an opening formed between kitchen and dining provides for easy flow and connection between the practical kitchen and the retained formal living areas. The walls of stained plywood units feature as pieces of furniture forming storage to living and dining, their materials providing a practical response enriched with stains to enhance the formal aspects of the existing dwelling.
This theme continues to the first floor with more wall storage units to bedheads and desks, but meets other more playful and integrated elements. The bathroom is reduced to make way for the laundry, which doubles to provide a second basin, wash or make up area. The wall between provides for storage to the bathroom.
And finally, the childrens' rooms gain space by introducing a bunk bed wall unit accommodating the storage and sleeping pod for each, but retaining a sense of shared space with playful sliding hatches
Design Challenge
This was a love job. Heritage did not dictate a need to retain the existing dwelling. However, the client loved the building form and its story, and wanted to see a new story continue within. Therefore the two greatest challenges comprised budget and space.
It was determined the building required extensive commitment to repairs and upgrades to a dwelling now 70 years old. Re-wiring and re-plumbing,repair and replacement to structural walls, plaster and roofing (all labour intensive) challenged the overall investment budget. The result was the need to then use the original dwelling to maximise the available spaces and allow for a more contemporary and integrated form of living.
While it may seem contrary to reduce the footprint overall to create space, the result expands the house to the exterior and within itself.
Sustainability
Working with the existing building fabric and efficient use of spaces, sustainability principles were :
• Recycle & Salvage
• Reduce & Enhance
Embodied energy in the construction and potential landfill was reduced by salvaging the existing core building and work within.
Demolished materials were reused for repairs and landscaping, including bricks, roof tiles and timbers.
Salvaged and recycled timbers were used to the deck, floors and pergola, providing a deep shade device to the western sun. Windows and hardware were salvaged from existing and recycling yards.
Subtraction of spaces improved its efficiency and meant less energy was required for its operation. New and openable windows maximised natural daylight and created natural cross flow, removing the need for air-conditioning. Window repairs included new Low E glass, and new windows and doors were double glazed, Insulation was installed to the existing roof and floor.
FSC and low formaldehyde joinery units with Low VOC paints and natural stains maximise the efficiency of the reduction and provide more spacious use to the house..
Solar hot water was integrated into the roof and water tanks installed to feed the laundry and WC, and a produce garden.
Interior Design - Residential
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes and aesthetic presentation. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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