MASTER BUILDER OF THE YEAR AWARDS 2003
Special Commendation Best Renovation/ Addition over $600 000
Builder: FinnBuild
Entry: Gore St Fitzroy
Designer/ Architect: Teo & Perperis Architects
The property was a derelict three storey house built in the late 19th Century. There was very little architectural feature and detail in the original building.
The programme called for substantial addition to the front and rear, and more than the doubling of floor area. For the existing building, rooms were demolished to expand the proportions.
The circulation pattern creates a central spine for the house and is a unifying element for the three very different parts of the house. As one moves along the spine, various volumes, surfaces, texture colours, solid and void, and the play of natural and artificial light provide continuing visual interest.
The gatehouse is the first visual surprises for visitors. Although appearing to look like the front door, the gatehouse opens to a Japanese inspired courtyard, and leads to the front door.
The curved joinery at the entry hallway is a sculpture that functions as a coat cupboard, a display and support for the stair. To accentuate the sculptural element, an exotic timber veneer, red heart eucalypt is used.
Adjacent to the joinery is an angular wall fin clad with fossil limestone as a rich contrast to the timber veneer and curved form of the joinery.
The floor for the front and middle part of the house is polished jarrah selected for the intensity of the colour and forms a base for other finishes and furnishings. It weaves in and out of the existing solid wall and leads to a roof top terrace with view of the city skyline. Light stainless steel balustrades double as stringers and form a complete contrast to the timber floor / timber veneer and the mass of the raw render of the existing house. The extensive glazing including the glass roof transforms this transition space into a translucent box.
Adjacent to the stair, a large pane of glass overlooks a reflecting pond. Water is introduced to highlight the natural elements of light, wind and rain. The pond is also the main outlook from the dining room. A low slit window enables the study at the front extension to enjoy the reflective light of the pond, and yet maintaining privacy from other areas.
A corridor cuts through the mass of the existing house to link with the rear extension. A wall of cherry veneer provides storages and conceals the powder room. The other sides of the corridor are display cupboards finished in metal laminate to provide a relief from timber.
The dining room overlooks two courtyards. The room is a combination of modern and traditional design. A rug with aboriginal design, a gas fireplace, a modern solid timber table are used to complement existing Georgian set of dining chairs and cabinet. The large windows facing the pond showcase the backs of the Georgian chairs from the entry hall.
The kitchen is an extension of the service area located to the south side of the existing house. It overlooks the dining room and family room at the rear extension. The finishes are quartz bench top, bright blue glass splash back, stainless steel and timber veneer doors.
The family room is a double cube extension. High clerestory windows are designed to be above the two storey house to the north, and ensure this room has access to direct sunlight. The south wall is curved to create an illusion of more space for the south garden. Large bi fold doors provide direct access to the garden.
The north wall is constructed in polished alabaster concrete block and the west wall is clad in split face alabaster block. The black galaxy granite floor is selected for the opulence and elegance. A long bench at the north wall provides an elegant storage for the entertainment requirements. Zebrano veneer is chosen for its unusual pattern and colour.
A custom made shiny steel circular stair is a dominant feature of the room. It is also the termination point of the circulation spine, and leads up to a curved gallery lined with cheery veneered bookcases. The first floor houses the children area, and consists of a front living room, bedrooms and bathrooms. Bright palettes are used extensively in this floor.
The second floor is a parent retreat. The bed head doubles as a wardrobe and occupies the whole back wall. The warmth of the Cherry veneer is used to complements the dark blue carpet. The dark Macassar Ebony veneered pivot doors function as screens for the bedroom, and add complexity and opulence to the composition. The overall aim is to evoke a Manhattan ambience.
A focal point of the en-suite is a cantilevered spa with a large bay window overlooking the cityscape. The use of natural stones and light timber veneers create a Japanese aesthetic and provide a relief to the rich colour tones of the bedroom.
