Maylands Additions

The project is a highly crafted response to the clients requests for a house that respects the strength and delicacy of the existing. It is a work of humility that builds on the material and detailed richness of the existing heritage listed house. Formally the house is composed of two parts.An extension of the form of the existing house under which a new form has been inserted. The new insertion is a tight skin of timber and steel that is open at the end and has carefully cut openings in its sides. The openings are created by unique steel framed windows with exaggerated depth to match the thickness of timber clad walls. The deep steel frames help articulate the play of light and shade into the house as well as capturing images of the landscape in the reflections within the glass. The placement of these openings relate to the interior and the creation of key connections to the landscape from the interior. Internally a central concrete core creates the organizational and conceptual centre of the project. The concrete brings extra weight and presence to emphasize this. Contained within the core is the kitchen, the heart of the house. Located around the core are the livings spaces and dining room. The central placement of the core encourages movement and exploration while also framing or creating new encounters with the landscape. Built over three levels each space has a unique and different connection to the outside. A deck is nestled outside the dining room between the new addition and an extraordinary eucalyptus tree. Moments for casual use have been designed into the house in the forms of a concrete bench that transforms from shelving to lounge seating and steps to the external deck are extra high to act as places to sit amongst the garden. Winner of The Architecture Award at the 2011 Australian Institute of Architecture Awards WA Chapter