Concept

The goal for the project was to create a home for a growing family that encourages health, wellbeing, togetherness and social interaction. The existing home was poorly laid out, dim lit and discouraged social interaction. The clients wanted a home for living, play and work that is adaptive for their family long into the future. 

Design Response to Concept and Brief

Our task as the Architect was to re-imagine the home for the long term with a focus on thermal comfort, fresh air and strong connections to the outdoors. With 4 bedrooms, study, formal lounge and open plan kitchen, dining and lounge, the home can adapt to varying functional and accommodation scenarios. The traditional ‘parents downstairs and kids upstairs’ is how the house currently operates however the flexibility of the spaces could see this arrangement change over time and with a different owner.

Outdoor areas, designed in conjunction with the landscape and pool consultants, achieves an environment conducive to entertaining, play and the enjoyment of nature. The pool and alfresco area receives excellent daylight and maintains strong connections back to the house. 

The sustainability design response was delivered through thoughtful and rigorously tested design using BIM and other ESD software to ensure the built outcome met the clients brief

Relationship to Context and/or broader Public Benefit

Though not in a heritage area the existing front heritage style portion of the dwelling was retained. Not for specific heritage reasons (the house is actually a reproduction heritage style built in the 80’s) but with consideration to the existing heritage context that is gradually being degraded by new developments. The rear two storey extension is modern and this theme ties back through the interior of the home. With the benefit of a relatively large block, the design maintained all siting considerations to adjoining dwellings, enhancing the aspect of daylight, views, etc of adjoining owners. 

With a public train station around the corner the on site carparking was reduced to one car space to maximise outdoor areas and reduce site coverage.

Response to Constraints

Orientation: with a north facing frontage one of the main constraints was delivering daylight to the interior spaces while ensuring the rear yard is not overly shaded, especially in the winter months. The form and heights of the rear extension were designed with this in mind, and through strategically placed windows and voids we were able to draw in as much daylight as possible while maintaining natural ventilation and reducing excessive heat gain.

Budget: Like many post pandemic projects the project budget was under immense pressure through the tendering phase. The retention of as much of the existing dwelling as possible, including the majority of the existing house concrete slab, allowed us to focus the clients budget on the renovated and new areas. Considered planning and design, zoning and passive ESD principles allowed the Nathers report to pass without the need for expensive commercial grade windows. 

Check out the Morton St house journey on our Instagram.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to know more about this project. 

contactus@studiocreo.com.au