LOCATION: Mount Hawthorn, Western Australia

PROJECT TYPE/SERVICES: Residential Architecture / Addition & renovation / Partial Architectural Service to Building Approval

FLOOR AREA: 200 square metres

This project is a substantial addition and renovation to a 1910 four room cottage in Mount Hawthorn. The challenge here is to turn a tiny old run down four room cottage into a fresh, contemporary, spacious family home and entertainers dream, within a modest budget.

Our solution was to come up with a design that met the clients practical needs and lifestyle requirements with a single storey, open plan addition that steps down to the rear to accommodate the sloping site.

As with all Mike Edwards Architecture projects, basic passive and solar design principles are taken into account from design inception. Considerable care is taken to optimise northern exposure and minimise eastern and western exposure to prevent undue solar gain in summer and take advantage of northern sun in winter. Suitable orientation and solar protection is integral.

Window and door openings are designed to facilitate flow-through and cross-ventilation as well as providing low-e glass and double glazing where required.

Appropriate specifications, material selection and building insulation is provided to more than adequately meet building code energy requirements.

The top 5 features of the design include:

1 - a large double garage coming off the rear laneway with room for the plumbing truck and a trailer as well as undercover access to the main house
2 - a home office/kids rumpus room coming off the living area but able to be closed off with bifold doors
3 - north facing high level louvre windows to the living room for ventilation and to let in the winter sun
4 - a spacious open plan living/dining/kitchen area opening on to a generous covered deck with it’s own outside kitchen
5 - possible future swimming pool and deck design included as part of the planning approval documents