what's the distance from the original house to each of the four boundaries, where is north, is the block flat or which way does it slope and how much and what are the original walls, floor and roof made out of?

contrary to your advice my initial thought would be to have the garage on the east and extension on a slab with better connection to the outdoor areas but please describe your climate and any views and what is the height of the ceilings?

Hi Christine,

As this is our daily bread & butter stuff a few issues clearly jump out to me:

1. Management/negotiation of levels to better connect house with external space

2. configuration of extension to minimise dimension

3. entry point to main living relationship

These can be tricky projects to achieve balance with. It's a good strategy to minimise work to existing, however I'd be looking at how perhaps (a) you can more lightly connect the extended space onto the existing, rather than so heavily encompass it and (b) consider a level change with the rear extension so you have a more integrated indoor/outdoor quality from the main living and it also then opens up potential for increased ceiling heights in those main areas. Another idea I'll throw at you, to get around the elongated entry, with such wide side setbacks you could feasibly consider one of those side entry points that bring people straight into the rear living zone, and keeps the secondary bedroom zone is more private. This is a strategy that we've used on several occasions very successfully as it simultaneously reduces the awkward "leftover" spaces, gets rid of the "going up into the house" entry factor only to then "come back down" (somehow) back into the rear yard, and naturally achieves more functional zoning. There's just way too much under-utilised passage space in this scheme as it sits and it's lacking response to the critical issues and missing available creative opportunities (not necessarily more expensive, rather better overall value options.

The other solution that would work really well for these type of things to maximise rear yard would be to to a split level two storey configuration where you go down to lower level for main new kitchen/living/dining, and go up to a master suite above. You'll be surprised if it's designed well how effective this can be to minimise footprint and better balance the internal/external relationship on a block, if external spaces are important to preserve.....

A few thoughts, hope helps in some way. Happy to elaborate further if any of this makes sense

Cheers PD :)

www.pauldistefanodesign.com

P.S. If you're fiddling with it yourself that's a big sign that it's not right. Trust your instincts ;)

this is a different project but dealing with similar scope........attached the initially mapped out concept plan just to demonstrate how we negotiated additional building program, site levels, entry relocation, minimising of renovation works to existing & maximising preservation of rear yard and northern light........what was super successful on this there was literally no work required to existing except for pulling out the kitchen and converting it to a study.......this is where creative design pays off big time

This is a quick snap the finished entry with light shaft over & internal garden that wraps around the original external wall......you can see how I graduated the the levels/steps so the awkward site fall is absorbed/integrated within the design

It's a much more refined & sensitively scaled and site responsive end result as opposed to a large mass of building on the back at the same level as existing....

I'am not an Architect, even though you have the rear outdoor space as a priority what about the chance of amazing water views by raising the house and working with that outlook, that has to be worth consideration?, the garage could be under the front of the house, or at the front with a verandah and flat terraced space on top of the garage with the beautiful view?

I reckon you're going to struggle to achieve a garage within a front setback of only 7.5m......unless there is existing precedent with other neighbouring garages positioned hard to the front boundary...the existing carport is set in further and this probably is as far forward to the street as you'll be allowed....

What are the flanking neighbouring setbacks and have you checked with council on this?

If you look at the plan in my previous post we had to get approval for reduced setback for the garage and it was pushed as hard up to the house as possible similarly like your existing carport..........

These are the critical questions to get answered first before you make other design decisions as they can be dealbreakers one way or the other......

It's always about getting the order of decision-making correct

Very important to understand what council will and won't allow, the garage can also be partially set back under the house.

Thanks for all your responses.

The garage as marked on the plan is incorrect - this is actually a carport and is allowable under Council setbacks. Standard side boundary setbacks requirement is 1.5m, but a relaxation can be sought on this.

Thanks for your comments re going up Siriuskey - whether or not to go up is something we have grappled with. I agree that this would probably take best advantage of the block, but it is not how we want to live in this home.

Thanks for your thoughts oklouise - there are several elements of your plan that are very appealing - the laundry and powder work really well and the adjustment to the kitchen to have a servery to the kitchen is great.

Paul's thoughts about moving the entry to the side of the house with more direct access to the open plan living is are a bit of an eye opener. One of the advantages of this and more of a pavilion style extensions is that an external window could be retained to the proposed music room, allowing it to stay as a bedroom. If it was possible to keep 4 bedrooms in the existing house, the size of the extension could be reduced.

Yes - keeping the dirt contained is always good!

Below a snap of a residence we designed extensions for.....to the right is the original part that used to have an entry "up in the air"......we got rid of that and developed a new entry on ground level that acts as a connection point between the old and the new, accessing directly into the extended new main living (to the left) and enabled the original spaces to still breathe and retain natural light quality........there are minimal passages in this home - spaces maximised to room function.........I'd be completely rethinking your strategy here....hope this helps direct you to a better result Cheers PD :)

Highton Residence · More Info

a new variation with side entry courtyard and/or deck, window to keep 4th bedroom in the main house, front deck, generous ensuite with view from the loo and minimal changes to the original house

and depending on the state of the old laundry it could be worthwhile to retain the space as a porch or mudroom and it would also add privacy and help shade the central courtyard from the eastern sun