The subject site is situated in an area of Kew that is primarily of early 20th century character. The existing house, a Californian bungalow was in almost original condition and had been the client’s childhood home.
Project Name: Copper Pot House
Studio Name: Jane Riddell Architects
Project size: 290 m2
Site size: 877 m2
Completion date: 2017
Building levels: 2
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Photography: Tom Roe
The client wanted to unlock the potential of the internal spaces and to focus them outwards whilst maintaining their essential character. The new architectural language at the rear is responsive to the Californian Bungalow character with its the geometric play on the existing gabled forms of the house.
To give the allusion of additional space the new gables are vaulted, in the lounge ceiling is timber lined to offer a soft dynamism to the internal volume. This theme is continued through to the outdoor door space with a deconstructed gable structure forming a pergola over an open-air room.
The external palette is an expression of the geometric play with the continuation of the red brick to the base and the more dynamic forms expressed in the copper shingle cladding. The materials reference the original craftsmanship typically associated with this era of house.
