Martine and Mark White had lived in their architect-designed 1980s home for three decades. But once the kids left home, they felt their beloved home needed a few tweaks to make if fit for this new stage of their lives. With the help of Philip Stejskal Architects these trusting and adventurous clients explored an alteration and addition project at the rear of their home (backing onto the rear laneway) which fits in poetically with the surrounding fences and garages...
The brief included the addition of a rear garage off the laneway, additional storage, a reconfiguration of the master bedroom, increase the size of other bedrooms and refurbishment of the bathrooms. All this work, except the bathrooms was located at the rear of the house to connect to the laneway. The extension, therefore is designed to look and feel more like a part of the laneway, so it contrasts with the original 1980s building. Low-lying and box-like the extension sits snuggly under the pitched roof of the original home and 'collides' into the inner workings of the home to reconfigure the spaces into a more efficient plan which better meets the brief.
In keeping with the concept of being more of the lane than of the original home, the extension is clad in 'Super 6', a fibre cement fencing product commonly seen in West Australian backyards. Yet, painted black the corrugated fibre cement takes on a more refined, modern persona.
A courtyard at the intersection of old and new is carved out from the black exterior, which allows the new workshop and bedroom to spill outdoors if desired.
The master bedroom was reconfigured to make it slightly smaller than its previously oversized self, and to incorporate a shaded verandah space. Bay window seats were added to the other bedrooms to increase the sense of space and functionality.
Original cabinets from the master bedroom were reconfigured and reused to save both money and waste - with a polite nod to the past to boot.
Philip Stejskal Architects have packed a lot of extra functionality into this home. Considered and measured alterations have resulted in a home that still looks and feels like the home Martine and Mark have loved for so many years, but which ensures the next stage of their lives will be comfortable and rewarding.
