Existing Site Conditions

This two-storey detached family home, blessed with a beautiful pool and lush landscaping outside, faces some challenges indoors. Its interiors are dated, featuring wallpaper, carpeted floors, and old furnishings that no longer serve the needs of a modern family. The living and kitchen areas are particularly dark, with minimal natural light, creating a space that feels enclosed.

Last approved plans 1990

Existing Site Photos

Client’s Brief

The Clients require the layout to be split into two distinct zones that remain connected at a central point. The living and dining areas are envisioned as a continuous space with a high ceiling, offering an expansive and open feel. These spaces will be surrounded by three-sided glass walls, providing stunning views of the landscaped area and ensuring a seamless indoor-outdoor connection. Efforts are being made to preserve the sentimental value of cherished bonsai trees, while existing large trees on the property are retained as striking feature elements that enhance the overall design and ambiance.

Sun and Wind Path Diagrams

Spatial Diagrams

Our Intervention

The house is thoughtfully designed to be dog-friendly, catering to the owner’s love for dogs. To enhance natural light, skylights are introduced on the second storey, creating a brighter and more inviting interior. The façade will showcase a sophisticated blend of textures, with stone cladding adding a timeless elegance and a canopy constructed from wood off-form concrete providing a modern, tactile contrast. This combination of features ensures the home is both functional and visually striking.

After conducting a cost-comparison analysis, the team determined that demolishing the existing structure and rebuilding from scratch would provide a more ideal and efficient solution than attempting to work around the limitations of the current layout.

Front Perspective

Back Perspective

Dry Garden Perspective

Side Perspectives

The living and dining areas boast high ceilings, thanks to a generous 4-meter floor-to-floor height, while the master bedroom features a slanted ceiling that enhances its spaciousness. At the heart of the home is a folded steel staircase paired with an aluminium screen, serving as a standout design centrepiece. Skylights are placed above the bedroom, bathroom, staircase, and family area, ensuring that multiple spaces are bathed in natural light, creating a bright and inviting atmosphere.