With very separate living spaces, it was difficult to supervise kids playing in the rumpus room (except from directly within the small kitchen). The formal lounge room was inaccessible, except through a narrow hallway. This house had positive features too, though. A testament to its architectural history. Beautiful light streamed into the house in winter through northern windows (though most of these windows were shaded by an 80’s pergola which also trapped the heat in summer).

Our clients wanted to retain the history of the house but open it up and remove some of the wasteful circulation space to create more room to live. They didn’t want a larger house, but a more practical, greener home that suited their lifestyle. As such, we re-connected their living spaces, enlarged the kitchen by removing its surrounding corridors and maximised the useability of the house without the need for an extension.

Slate tiles underneath northern windows to maximise solar gains through thermal mass

Windows and doors moved to channel cooling breezes from the south side of the house

Restoration of the original northern glazing and removing pergola

Operable doors/walls to open up or close down spaces as required