Victoria
Commissioned to assist Landscape Architect Ben Scott provide alterations and additions to his family home the site was also utilised as a canvas to showpiece Ben’s considerable landscape design skills.
Working collaboratively with Ben’s vision the arrangement facilitated proposed foliage to layer seamlessly with neighbours existing foliage enabling a feeling of an infinite unravelling garden.
Architecturally the intention was to provide an internal framework from which to view and activate the garden. The exterior of the addition acts more as landscape feature than primary object. In this sense the addition’s exterior reading goes largely unnoticed. Intimate flat roofed mid-century tones provide difference and deference to the Victorian building whilst keeping costs to a minimum.
Sometimes architecture’s role is to lead and conduct and create presence by nature of being seen, other times it can be to orchestrate equally important interactions without being seen -this is an example of the latter.
The new north facing wing floods natural light into the kitchen and living area, creating a space that draws our family together. This abundance of light and the relaxed tone of the timber finishes, is the perfect space for us to connect and brings a sense of calm.
Perhaps our favourite design element are the huge glass doors that stack open to bring the garden into the house. You can be in the pool and still converse with someone cooking in the kitchen or relaxing on the sofa. The design allows our family to connect and with the garden.
Client perspective
Cassie Southon, Project Architect
Ellie Taylor, Graduate of Architecture
Matt Gibson, Director – Design Overview
Ben Scott Garden Design, Landscape Consultant
Clive Steele Partners, Engineer
CRA Survey PL, Building Surveyor
Energy Lab, ESD Consultant
Nissl Eichert Heating, Hydraulic Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.