Our clients came to us with three wishes for their renovation project – an environmentally sustainable and high-performance home; lots of natural light and good access to the garden.
We settled on an L-shape plan for the extension which allows abundant light to enter the rear extension and create pockets of outdoor space. We decided not to build the living room wall to the laneway boundary. Keeping off the boundary allows the two outdoor spaces to be connected with a side path which will enrich the feeling being immersed in the garden.
The existing part of the house was given an environmental makeover. The original rotted weatherboards were removed and the existing wall frame was weather wrapped, taped and sealed. A ventilated wall cavity was installed to allow better air flow within the walls. The existing floors, ceiling and walls were insulated and the existing aluminium windows were replaced with double-glazed timber tilt-and-turn windows. The original Baltic pine floorboards were sanded and reoiled.
At the rear of the home, a new concrete ground slab provides thermal mass to the rear spaces. The concrete slab is heated by an electronic heat pump fed from a new solar power system. Deep wall framing allowed us to specify higher R-value insulation. R7 insulation is installed in the roof spaces of the extension. Windows and door openings are positioned to promote cross ventilation. Lift & slide windows and tilt & turn doors were selected for their superior thermal performance. Deep eaves ensure the glazing and internal spaces are protected from the summer sun’s intense heat. An electronically operated highlight window in the living room allows heat to escape on warmer days.
The AC unit from the demolished kitchen was removed and reinstalled in the rear extension, while a new ceiling fan circulates air to maintain a comfortable temperature throughout. An HRV system was installed to improve air quality and energy efficiency. Outside, the original kitchen chimney was repurposed to create an outdoor fireplace, and the carport driveway is paved with recycled timber sleepers. The building itself is clad in recycled cream bricks, sourced from up the road in Coburg. Second-hand lighting pendants were installed throughout the house. The low brick front fence was retained and modified and a new gate opening cut into a new preferred position. We worked with creative practice Main&Frank who designed a custom dining table to suit the particularities of the dining space. The table is built from recycled blackwood, sourced from a second-hand timber supplier in Preston.
Maybe the most important environmental consideration is the size of the building – a modest 140m2. Spaces are efficient and flexible, allowing for a generous garden on what is a relatively small block. This allowed us to focus the available budget on the home’s performance and quality.
