A project comprising the inhabitation of a roof space. Our clients approached us to remedy a situation where an existing double storey extension at the rear of the property failed to take advantage of views toward the ocean, nor did it harness prevailing breezes or north-light.
Project Name: South Terrace Mezzanine House
Studio Name: Philip Stejskal Architecture
Location: Fremantle, Australia
Photography: Dion Robeson
Project size: 250 m2
Site size: 182 m2
Completion date: 2020
Building levels: 2
Their desire was to push west within the existing roof space, to culminate in a roof terrace behind the existing shopfront parapet. The result is a ‘ oating’ mezzanine home-of ce space, pulled back from the edges of the building to funnel daylight to the ground floor and create spatial connection between the levels.
The existing roof was ‘raised’ to accommodate the new program and re-clad in a contemporary material to signal the intervention. External louvred sun shades allow controlled solar ingress through operable glazed roof sections, which also augment cross ventilation. The existing second storey at the rear of the site was wrapped in a new cloak and given a privacy screen to manage overlooking to the eastern neighbour.
Internally, white predominates to provide a neutral backdrop to the clients’ collection of colourful objects and art. Thresholds between old and new are, by contrast, dark and moody. This project represents merely the present moment in the life of a structure that has been operating for more than 100 years. Originally as a shop, then as a home, now re-modelled as a series of exible spaces to serve as a temporary residence for our clients, with the ability to switch to an of ce without modifications in a few years.
