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An Angled Expansion Gives a Bungalow in Melbourne an Open-Air SlantView 15 Photos

An Angled Expansion Gives a Bungalow in Melbourne an Open-Air Slant

Building off a boxy floor plan, Splinter Society makes a diagonal cut, creating a family home that optimizes indoor/outdoor flow.
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Throughout the last 15 years, Melbourne-based firm Splinter Society has tackled a number of bungalow renovations. Bungalow 8 is their latest. "Bun­ga­lows make great fam­i­ly homes, and this mod­est ren­o­va­tion, designed to cel­e­brate the sim­ple joys of sub­ur­ban fam­i­ly life, is no dif­fer­ent," explain the architects.

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For the remodel, the team focused on sustainability, affordability, and comfort. Another main goal was to create "a more modern, free-flowing series of connected living spaces," all while retaining "as much of the existing layout as possible," say the architects.

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To accommodate these aims, the team expanded the home by using the bedrooms as a datum. As they note, "the new addition cuts along the site, creating a distinct triangle in plan to reorient primary spaces to the north." Driven by sustainable principles, the angle works to contribute to passive heating and cooling, while also creating a unique juncture between interior and exterior. The simple roofline acts as a guide for the new arrangement of spaces.

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In addition to being affordable, sustainable, and robust, the materials used were chosen to create a natural sense of warmth. While at times the architects relied heavily on stone and concrete, the team implemented a generous amount of timber inside and out, blending in subtle detailing borrowed from traditional Japanese vernacular.

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"The design embraces complete functionality and practicality for the family," says the firm. For example, a central timber joinery element connects the kitchen/dining spaces, while also offering significant storage. The flexible interior spaces offer constant connection to the landscaped gardens, which have been designed with ample outdoor space for children to play.

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"A place for enjoy­ing the sim­ple plea­sures of domes­tic archi­tec­ture," say the architects, "Bun­ga­low 8 is char­ac­terized by qual­i­ty spaces that are well con­nect­ed to nat­ur­al light, and its exte­ri­or gar­den. It’s also well zoned for fam­i­ly inter­ac­tion, whilst respond­ing to a broad­er sense of respon­si­bil­i­ty to the environment."

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Bungalow 8 Floor Plan

Bungalow 8 Floor Plan

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