A Welcoming Family Home Radiates Out to the Neighborhood in Melbourne
"Today we see suburbs full of bigger, grander houses with high fences and tiny backyards," says Gardener Architects. "In our opinion, these houses that foster a family life conducted primarily inside, miss the mark."
When the firm was approached by the owners of a California-style bungalow in Melbourne, the project team was struck by how the family of five know all of their neighbors and are active in the community. As a result, they came up with a plan to renovate the home so that it serves the way the family lives: connected to the neighborhood.
Gardiner Architects clad the bungalow in timber shiplap and sheet metal. "The external form of the Californian bungalow had the defining feature of the typical gabled roof," says the firm. "The roof of the new section takes the vernacular form of the gables offset from the retained roof. We liked this sensitive approach that saw the new extension not dominating the existing. In a sense, it could've always been there."
Flexibility, practicality, comfort, and spaciousness were all in the brief, as well as natural connections to the oft-used backyard and the surrounding neighborhood. "In terms of this single residential project, a focus on community set foundations for a house to avoid being a primarily internalized experience," said the firm.
The first order of business was to break down old ideas of formal spaces versus informal spaces. "The entry to a Californian bungalow is typically through the formal front door," said the firm. "Moving away from this, we supplemented an additional entry off the side lane. The old idea of coming in the front door, where you find the ‘nice room’ that the children aren’t allowed in, that has the crystal cabinet and granny drinking sherry is broken down."
"There's always food production happening, craft projects, children’s art and toys around, as well as a dog and the chooks," said the firm. "We prioritized making small gestures, avoiding the house feeling contrived where every beautiful thing has its place. Instead, a backdrop is laid that allows the house to evolve and change alongside the family."
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A hardworking pantry was essential for the family. "They’re also very keen cooks," said the firm. "They preserve fruit, make kombucha, keep bees, and grow a lot of herbs and vegetables. The open walk-in pantry, plenty of bench space, and storage are all approaches that allow for lots of food to be produced." Pantry inserts are made from Maxi Film birch plywood in black, so that the pantry space recedes.
Upstairs, there are three kids’ rooms and a shared bathroom. The stair landing fosters a lot of storage. "Longer views of trees in the distance are captured from the upstairs bedrooms. A snippet of the outside is seen through a small triangular window at the top of the stairs, providing a view that’d be missed otherwise," said the firm.
Related Reading: A Melbourne Home Decreases in Size to Amp Up Its Outdoor Connection, A Bold Addition With a Zigzag Roof Ushers Light Into This Melbourne Home
Project Credits:
Architect of Record: Gardiner Architects / @gardinerarchitects
Builder: Clancy Constructions
Structural Engineer: 4-Site Engineers
Mural Artist: Alex Scott Douglas
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