Balgowlah Residence 

Transforming a 1920’s Californian bungalow to celebrate the old and integrate contemporary design to achieve flexible family living with lots of natural light. Additional built forms respond proportionally to the site, establishing seamless connections to outdoor living and landscaped areas.

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The primary conceptual framework evolved to meet the challenges of a western facing backyard where a series of small interconnected rooms and elevated ballustraded deck created an environment for the family of dark mornings and overheated afternoons. Existing kitchen and dining areas lacked natural light, outlook, space and connectivity to garden level below.

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‘Celebrating the old’ through retention of the original ceilings and features which were largely intact. Distinct identities were created between the existing and new through an opposing series of contemporary light filled additions. A philosophy of ‘Natural Maintenance’ is reflected in the material palette of sustainable and durable finishes for decking, cladding and paving. Re-use of materials was incorporated in the new driveway and bin store using salvaged bricks from the demolition, to reuse the bones of the original home using a contemporary stack bond, again hinting at the new while referencing the past.  

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The family now enjoys light filled breezy mornings through high level operable glazing on the east and northern elevations of the addition, with seamless transition between light filled kitchen, living, dining, deck and garden.

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Project completed in collaboration with Christina Prescott Design.

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Photography by Simon Whitbread