The Wurundjeri clan of the Woi Wurrung people of the Kulin Nation
Victoria
A family of four, work-from-home professionals and their two teenage daughters, concluded after ten years and the 2020 lockdowns, that their living situation was no longer working. Clarke is the renovation and extension of a single-storey weatherboard cottage once void of light, definition, separation and all hope of personal space.
Drawn to deliberative design, simplicity and functionality, inspired by their year living in Japan, they asked for more considered and purposeful space. “Something different.” Modern but not stark or boxy, bright and open but also cosy and comfortable, areas to entertain and private areas to retreat suited to each individual.
In realising all aspects of the brief and embedding the solutions into the language of the building, the extension became an unusual stepping and overlapping shape. To unify, a batten screen is set over, providing shade and privacy and bringing together new and old in a simple meeting of forms.
We trusted the team to come up with a design that would work from a functionality and from an artistic perspective. Everything we wanted has been factored in and everything has a place. It feels like a large house but no space is wasted. There are big scale surprises and beautiful small scale details. We love the sliding glass openings and the views and direct connection to the gardens. We enjoy showing off the house, socialising and entertaining, which we never did before. The house accommodates different people’s personalities so there’s a lot more harmony; it’s easy and more fun.
Andrew Maynard, Design Architect
Mark Austin, Design Architect
Kathryne Houchin, Project Architect
Webb Consult Pty Ltd, Engineer
Code Compliance, Building Surveyor
Tensys, Net Engineers
Mcnuttndorff Landscapes Design, Landscape Consultant