STENING HOUSE

This project is an alteration to the rear of a semi-detached house in a tree-lined street with a huge Morton Bay fig in the back yard area. The clients are a young family with three young children who were looking for extra accommodation and a large level yard for the children to play in. The design solution was based around the resolution of the outside spaces, most importantly a central courtyard space around which the activities of the house revolve. This space gives the house a sense of quiet and calm. It looks out onto a pond where the water runs over a natural rock face. The idea of the central courtyard space allowed the living areas to be broken up for different uses so the family is able to relax and entertain separately or together. From the street the addition is barely visible. On one side of the property there is a large two storey house and on the other side is the other side of the semi-detached dwelling. The rear garden area is substantially level a few steps up from the living area. There is a large play structure beneath the fig tree. The external spaces are child friendly with the ground being mainly soft cover. The interior has a sense of transparency and flexibility with large timber sliding doors allowing either total openness and complete integration with the garden or they are closed on colder days. When the doors are open the whole living area on the downstairs level reads as one space. The addition is clad in stained western red cedar as are the windows and doors so that the materials are quite mono-chromatic. All the external materials are either glass or timber with a flat colourbond roof. The rear addition is a steel structure with timber infill and cladding. The children's bedrooms are on the first floor level looking out over the trees beyond. This level is quite playful with bright colours and beds made into climbing structures which allow for different use below. In the front part of the house (closest to the street) the roof cavity has been used as a children's play area. The master bedroom is on the ground floor adjacent to the entrance from the street. This gives a complete separation from the parents and children if required. The project was built on a cost plus basis with weekly meetings to discuss the programme and budget. The cost was slightly more than initially anticipated but not too much over. There was also more items added to the list of works such as climbing structures for the children and landscape works. The enjoyment of the outside spaces is enhanced by natural stone features on the site which are integrated with the design. The strength of the design lies in the connection of the house with the courtyard and garden spaces.

LOCATION

Sydney

COMPLETION

2007

PHOTOGRAPHY

John Halfhide

AWARDS

2006 MBA Award