Project Of The Week
A Brilliant Re-Working of a Drab 1990s Extension to a Period Home
To save costs, this architect cleverly incorporated the dated extension to this Californian bungalow into its new design
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, Stewart Brooks, director at Architected, shares the process of extending and upgrading this four-bedroom, two-bathroom Edwardian-style Californian bungalow into a spacious, four-bedroom, three-bathroom family home with a fluid indoor-outdoor connection.
Gained: A new L-shaped extension housing a living room, kitchen, meals area, laundry, powder room, kids’ rumpus room and deck on the ground floor. The upper floor houses a new photography studio and study.
Outside, we installed a new swimming pool, landscaping and garage. We overhauled the original rooms in the house too, including the master bedroom (which gained a new walk-in robe), ensuite and children’s bedrooms.
Outside, we installed a new swimming pool, landscaping and garage. We overhauled the original rooms in the house too, including the master bedroom (which gained a new walk-in robe), ensuite and children’s bedrooms.
Shown here, the existing kitchen
What was the house like originally?
A beautiful two-storey Edwardian-style Californian bungalow with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and a poorly designed 1990s extension at the rear housing a kitchen and living room.
Here’s another clever upgrade of an Edwardian home
What was the house like originally?
A beautiful two-storey Edwardian-style Californian bungalow with four bedrooms and two bathrooms, and a poorly designed 1990s extension at the rear housing a kitchen and living room.
Here’s another clever upgrade of an Edwardian home
Shown here, the existing kitchen
What was your brief?
To add a contemporary extension to the rear of the house, while retaining as much of the existing home as possible.
What was your brief?
To add a contemporary extension to the rear of the house, while retaining as much of the existing home as possible.
What were the clients’ must-haves?
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- A photography studio and separate study (one of the clients is a photographer).
- A playroom located near the kitchen and living area so the parents could keep an eye on the kids, but with acoustic privacy.
- A walk-in robe in the master bedroom.
- Cosmetic upgrades to all the original rooms in the house, including a renovated ensuite and kids’ bathroom.
- More storage.
- A new garage.
Get more contemporary kitchen-design inspo
What exactly did you do?
- Incorporated the original 1990s addition with its double-height void into a new L-shaped extension that boasted a new roof, finishes, joinery and more.
- Updated the rear of the house with new exterior cladding, window openings and roof form.
- Added a new deck, swimming pool and garage.
- Overhauled the original bedrooms and bathrooms in the house.
- Added a new walk-in robe to the master bedroom.
- Added extensive built-in storage to the kitchen, laundry and study, plus new cupboards and joinery in the children’s bedrooms, and a large outdoor storage shed for bikes and surfboards.
What constraints did this project address?
The existing 1990s extension created some poorly considered spaces and had an awkward, double-height void over the living space. To keep building costs down, we retained the 1990s extension and worked the double-height void into the new design. Incorporating the original extension posed a real design challenge, but ended up being one of the best features of the house.
A second constraint was the western orientation of the main living spaces at the rear of the house. Having living spaces facing west can create difficulties controlling heat gain and glare from westerly afternoon sun. Our design response was to orientate the pavilion extension to face north, which allowed the owners to control natural light more effectively. We treated the western glazing with high-performance glass and external louvre blinds to control the sun and heat gain.
The third and possibly most difficult problem we faced with the design of house was its identity. How could we retain the character of the Californian bungalow at the front, incorporate an ugly 1990s extension to the rear, design a modern extension… and have the overall house feel architecturally cohesive?
The existing 1990s extension created some poorly considered spaces and had an awkward, double-height void over the living space. To keep building costs down, we retained the 1990s extension and worked the double-height void into the new design. Incorporating the original extension posed a real design challenge, but ended up being one of the best features of the house.
A second constraint was the western orientation of the main living spaces at the rear of the house. Having living spaces facing west can create difficulties controlling heat gain and glare from westerly afternoon sun. Our design response was to orientate the pavilion extension to face north, which allowed the owners to control natural light more effectively. We treated the western glazing with high-performance glass and external louvre blinds to control the sun and heat gain.
The third and possibly most difficult problem we faced with the design of house was its identity. How could we retain the character of the Californian bungalow at the front, incorporate an ugly 1990s extension to the rear, design a modern extension… and have the overall house feel architecturally cohesive?
Shown here, the new ground-level floor plan
How does the new work address these constraints?
The design solution was to create a north-facing, L-shaped extension that incorporated the existing extension and enclosed the garden and pool area.
The rear of the house was given a new modern identity, however underneath, much of the building’s structure was existing.
How long did the build take?
Design and documentation took eight months and construction took a further eight months.
How does the new work address these constraints?
The design solution was to create a north-facing, L-shaped extension that incorporated the existing extension and enclosed the garden and pool area.
The rear of the house was given a new modern identity, however underneath, much of the building’s structure was existing.
How long did the build take?
Design and documentation took eight months and construction took a further eight months.
Shown here, the new upper-level floor plan
What was your underlying philosophy when designing this home?
Our philosophy is to retain existing building fabric wherever possible. It may have been easier to demolish the 1990s extension and start again, but I believe it is important to minimise demolition and waste.
The result not only retains 100 percent of the original Californian bungalow, it keeps most of the existing extension. I think it’s important to preserve the story of a house. This house now has three stories to tell – the original 1920s Californian bungalow, the 1990s extension and the new, contemporary extension.
What was your underlying philosophy when designing this home?
Our philosophy is to retain existing building fabric wherever possible. It may have been easier to demolish the 1990s extension and start again, but I believe it is important to minimise demolition and waste.
The result not only retains 100 percent of the original Californian bungalow, it keeps most of the existing extension. I think it’s important to preserve the story of a house. This house now has three stories to tell – the original 1920s Californian bungalow, the 1990s extension and the new, contemporary extension.
Why do you think this project works?
Several reasons; the outlook to the garden, the fact that the kitchen is the centrepiece of the renovation and home, and the abundance of natural light that fills the new building. The generous, walk-in kitchen storage also contributes to the success of this project; it’s easy to hide cooking mess away and keep the space looking clean and uncluttered.
Renovating or extending? Chat through your ideas with a local architect
Several reasons; the outlook to the garden, the fact that the kitchen is the centrepiece of the renovation and home, and the abundance of natural light that fills the new building. The generous, walk-in kitchen storage also contributes to the success of this project; it’s easy to hide cooking mess away and keep the space looking clean and uncluttered.
Renovating or extending? Chat through your ideas with a local architect
Shown here, the garden before building works commenced
Key features
Key features
- A new L-shaped extension.
- New swimming pool and landscaping.
- A sophisticated, natural colour palette.
- Extensive storage.
Shown here, the garden after works were completed
Exterior materials palette
Interior materials palette
Exterior materials palette
- Shiplap weatherboards to the new rumpus extension.
- Colorbond ‘Monument’ Standing Seam Cladding.
- Colorbond ‘Monument’ and ‘Surfmist’ roofing.
- Blackbutt decking.
- Double-glazed windows with low-e glass.
Interior materials palette
- Royal Oak Floors American White Oak floorboards and stairs.
- American White Oak timber veneer kitchen cabinetry.
- Pantry and appliance cupboards painted in Dulux Raku low-sheen finish.
- Walls painted in Dulux Natural White.
- Marble kitchen benchtop.
- Signorino Tile Gallery ‘Berlin Grey’ floor tiles in ensuite.
Tell us
What impresses you most about this clever extension? Tell us in the Comments. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Enjoyed this article? Here’s the story of another innovative makeover and extension of a classic Edwardian home.
What impresses you most about this clever extension? Tell us in the Comments. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Enjoyed this article? Here’s the story of another innovative makeover and extension of a classic Edwardian home.
Answers by Stewart Brooks, director at Architected
Who lives here: A family with three children
Location: Mont Albert, Victoria
Original size: 270 square metres
Size after extension: 380 square metres
Architect: Architected
Builder: Constructing Spaces
Structural engineer: Robert Bird Group
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