Dilapidated Garage Reimagined as a Creative Little Studio

Located in a tight lane way in Fitzroy, Tim Spicer Architects have created a truly unique response to urban densification...

Timber Houses, Outdoor Areas, Water Collection

Urban Homes, Timber Houses, Black Houses

The new two-story building replaces an existing dilapidated garage and houses a carport and bathroom at ground floor, with home studio above. Central to the design are sustainable principles, which govern both the design response and material selection. The client had previously owned a timber furniture company so it was natural that timber was to be the major element in the building.

Urban Homes, Timber Houses, Outdoor Areas

An ethereal skin is created through the application of vertical timber battens that are screw fixed to three curved laminated timber beams. These laminated compound beams curve in two directions wrapping around the building façade, vertically twisting at roof level to create a raking ceiling. The open skin created by the local recycled yellow stringy bark battens blurs the distinction between the internal and external, resulting in a permeable privacy screen. The repetition of the battens creates a unified façade; the oil based finished ensuring its longevity and highlighting the natural appearance of the timber.

Urban Homes, Timber Houses

An open timber stair made from recycled brush box floats delicately between the inner walls and the external timber skin of the building, connecting the inhabitant to the garden as they move between floors. The timber theme continues throughout the building interior with bamboo floors providing a warm and hard wearing working surface. The studio bench tops and cupboard faces are made from recycled red gum and the ceiling is clad with geometric faceted plywood, each panel accentuated with recessed shadow lines.

Timber Floors, Sliding Glass Doors

Timber Houses, Staircases

The skin is integral to the passive design principals of the building, enabling the building to breath and providing abundant natural light. The roof structure cantilevers over glazing to protect the inner spaces from the harsh summer sun but allows for dappled light through its battened exterior during winter. Victorian Ash double-glazed sliding doors and windows on the second story create fresh-air cross-ventilation paths throughout the level.

Timber Houses, Staircases

Water is harvested from the roof and stored in a 5000-litre water tank, which supports the lush garden, providing the perfect setting for this unique building.

Timber Houses, Bathrooms, Showers, Staircases, Basins, Toilet Suites

The thoughtful design and use of natural materials creates a beautiful space in what would otherwise be a neglected back part of the garden.