urban hill house

URBAN HILL HOUSE

Located on an extraordinary sloping site surrounded  by a mature treed canopy and sweeping views to the south west, the existing post-war house was renovated 15 years ago in a retro-modern style. The layout appeared spacious, however the open plan ground floor meant there was no acoustic privacy between the living and dining areas, and the teenage children had cramped bedrooms and an urgent need for a study zone. The new two-story addition is robust in form. a wall of timber separates and defines existing and new forms, and acts as a frame to the deep reveal glazing of a new living area. The timber wall continues to clad the setback upper level, elegantly detailed horizontal battens which will weather to grey and resonate with the lush and verdant garden setting which envelopes the site. Views to the city are breathtaking. Through exact modifications, circulation is resolved to work seamlessly with the new addition. Parents and teenager zones are clearly defined.   The study, with walls which can recede to become part of a central space,  becomes the meeting point.”

• Location; Kew, Victoria
• Site Area; 450m2
• Photographer; mcmahon and nerlich
• Year; 2012