Simon Couchman Architects | Elsternwick house

in Architecture by editor — 3:48 pm | December 11, 20110 comments

Providing family accommodation on this small heritage-restricted corner site in Elsternwick required a solution that was outside of the square. A contemporary 2-storey structure has been built to the rear of the existing cottage clad in contrasting dark zinc to draw a very deliberate line between new and old.

Simon Couchman Architects | Elsternwick house

The external form of the new building mirrors the outline of the existing but is offset and hovers over the old roof separated by a band of glazing that wraps around it.

The upper level loft-style children’s bedrooms incorporate a shared bathroom, fully enclosed north-facing balconies and access to a storage area within the existing roof space. Master bedroom to the front of the house opens into a new en-suite bathroom with free-standing bath naturally lit by overhead roof light glazing.

Zinc pods protruding from the south, blind side of the building accommodate laundry and maximise storage space within the house. A new kitchen / dining / living area to the rear of the house opens out to private, timber deck and urban garden via full height sliding glass doors.

Location: Elsternwick, VIC, Australia

Architect: Simon Couchman Architects

Year completed: 2011
Project Engineer: KH Engineering
Building Contractor: Mitty and Price Pty Ltd
Landscape: David Manning
Photographer: Christine Francis
Site area: 230 sqm
Building area total: 181 sqm
Construction: timber frame

Project name: Elsternwick house
Cladding: VM Zinc, Radially cut timber shiplap and battens
Windows: Miglas composite timber / Aluminium frame double glazing