New South Wales
Driven by shared values of connectedness, site-specificity, place making, passive design, and a valuing of less over more, House for BEES encompasses a modest addition directly connected to the garden. An acronym of the clients’ names, and a reference to their native bee hive, House for BEES is a moniker that encapsulates the client focused, collaborative design process and outcome for a family of four to their Federation home and garden in Mosman.
Conceived as a garden room, the design directly grounds and orient the occupants toward their garden. Kitchen, living and dining spaces are lightly contained by a floating roof, folded to capture northern light and facilitate the capture of south-easterly breezes. Structural simplicity and legibility dissolves the southern and eastern edge, with banks of sliding doors fully retracting to enable a seamless connection with the garden.
As a mad gardener my brief was to be passive and to feel connected to the garden. Evan wanted a chef’s kitchen. The aim was for both of us to be able to cook and entertain casually and comfortably whilst being wrapped in the garden.
We have many favourite bits but I love the horizontal cedar louvers on the outside of the sliding doors which remain open all year to ventilate.
The reno has had a surprising impact on each of us – the garden has become more productive and functional. Entertaining is a pleasure. The kids have a cricket pitch.
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.
