• One of the main imperatives is to make good use of the views from living areas and main bedroom – ‘Frame views’.
• An important aspect is to incorporate the use of light (preferably northern sun making use of good solar gain).
• Open-up the house. I.e. improve the inside and outside relationships.
• The basic configurations to be four-bedroom + study with two living areas.
• The study can be informal affair; it doesn’t have to be a ‘go to’ place where serious work is done.
• Ensure there is enough space for baby grand piano in one of living areas. And to permit the occasional gathering of small groups of musicians.
• Allow space for reading.
• Work with significant constraints due to tree coverage on existing site

This project is located in the well-established suburban area of Hawker which is characterised by large blocks and inviting vistas to the Brindabella Mountains.

The existing dwelling was a ‘close to the original’ 1970 house and evocative of its era. The original client brief for the house was to consider a new dwelling but from the architects perspective there seemed some value in attempting to retain the existing in part. TT Architecture edged towards an extension and alteration that responded to the existing conditions.

A virtual forest of mature and now ‘regulated’ gum trees from the original landscape plan covered the site. This to a large extent reinforced the preference of working with the existing structure. The ‘tree issue’ was further complicated with an imperative to achieve good solar orientation and to respect spectacular views to the west.
The resultant home represents a subtly nuanced and respectful response to the existing architecture and site conditions.

It is also a demonstration of an innovatively creative response to construction in the face of significant complexity. The clients are delighted with the resultant value for money.

Ddesigned to maximise northern orientation to living areas and improve overall energy rating from 2 stars to 6 stars.

HIA

Finalist Renovation | Addition Project $500,001 to $650,000

In response to the client’s brief, we created a sustainable, light filled home where solar gain was dramatically increased through the use of a void space that also serves to link the upper and lower levels. The inside now cleverly links to the outside with flowing connections to the garden making this a very liveable home for a young family.

The client’s brief was for an energy efficient, contemporary home within which to raise their two young children. The existing home had little connection to the outside and was poorly oriented on the block with a general lack of light and space. The clients had recently renovated the kitchen and wished to retain it if possible.

In developing the client’s brief an adventurous approach to materiality allowed for the use of new and locally permissible materials such as Zincalume cladding.

“we are really happy with the house and it is a tribute to all the hard work of you (TT Architecture), Wayne (the builder) and his team”
– Toby and Frankie

This renovation extension project directly responses to the client’s/user’s brief and expectations. The clients were living overseas and required modifications to their house to make it suitable for a young family on their return. The design process for the project was largely carried out ‘in the ether’.

The key difficulties in design arose with the need to deal with the existing sub-optimal bones of building and craft seamless external relationships. The problematic orientation was able to be solved by adding an additional story and ‘opening up’ the northern corner of the building allowing sunlight into the main living areas.

The original house was poorly configured for good energy efficiency and addressing this deficiency became essential plan for the remodelling exercise.

The use of recycled materials (including the repurposed and relocated kitchen) and the improvements in the insulation levels of all aspects of the building fabric both contribute to a successful environmental outcome on a limited budget.

RAIA

MWT Small projects award 2016