WALA

Home Improvement & Renovation Professionals , Architects
3 Reviews
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WALA
3 Reviews

Open Shut House

Open Shut House is a contemporary addition to a semi-detached Inter-war dwelling that caters to the growing needs of a large family. The new addition is connected to the original building via a soaring central atrium to create unique interstitial spaces that respond to the lifestyle of its inhabitants.

A series of tiered living spaces cascade from the belly of the house towards the rear, opening up to a landscaped garden. Well-positioned openings bring borrowed amenity into the home to strengthen the bond between its inside spaces and the outside, enriching the quality of living for the family.
Project Year: 2020
Project Cost: $1,500,001 AUD - $2,000,000 AUD
Country: Australia
Postcode: 3144
The upper level timber shutters can be independently operated by the occupants to control their desired levels of privacy and sunlight. Large glazed pivot doors, when open, fluidly and seamlessly connect the inside and outside spaces.
Open Shut House
The upper level timber shutters can be independently operated by the occupants to control their desired levels of privacy and sunlight. Large glazed pivot doors, when open, fluidly and seamlessly connect the inside and outside spaces.
Open Shut House
A new bladed front fence sits behind the original low-lying brick-piered front wall along the sidewalk. The new fence is coloured black to be more recessive and to disappear once plant growth between the old & new fences become more established.
Open Shut House
A new bladed front fence sits behind the original low-lying brick-piered front wall along the sidewalk. The new fence is coloured black to be more recessive and to disappear once plant growth between the old & new fences become more established.
Open Shut House
Original semi-detached Inter-War Art Deco inspired front facade of house.
Open Shut House
The new garage addition is a contemporary intervention that respects the scale and proportioning of the old period building. Vertical cedar battens line the face of the Garage, with a tilt-up panel door that is flushed to render the door almost invisible upon approach.
Open Shut House
Entry foyer.
Open Shut House
Entry foyer with original Art Deco-inspired ceiling rose detailing.
Open Shut House
Entry foyer with original mottled glass swing doors.
Open Shut House
Entry foyer and original staircase.
Open Shut House
Guest Bedroom in the existing period house. Visible through the window is the new extension and the "skylight-wedge" that draws sunlight in between the two buildings.
Open Shut House
Bathroom with its Calacatta marbled vanity counter and undermount sink. Wall-hung toilet pan against a marble dado wall. Feature brass shelves match the warmer tones of the timber window frames.
Open Shut House
Brass shelves detailing.
Open Shut House
Bathroom with a freestanding bath and floor spout. Traditional Art Deco-inspired floor tiles to match the original timber window frames.
Open Shut House
Powder Room with Calacatta marble vanity counter, mirror shaving cabinets and feature wall lamp.
Open Shut House
Powder Room with Calacatta marble vanity counter, mirror shaving cabinets and undermount sink.
Open Shut House
Bedroom Ensuite with its Calacatta marbled vanity counter and undermount sink.
Open Shut House
Passing through the hallway of the existing period house leads one to the contemporary rear extension. A new open-tread staircase partially reveals the new building beyond. A change in flooring (from old timber boards to new terrazzo tiles) is representative of this transition between old and new.
Open Shut House
An elevated terrazzo-tiled catwalk places an interesting interstitial space between old and new buildings.
Open Shut House
Split levels - open plan living zone below and a mezzanine Study above - create a soaring atrium topped by a series of skylights that extend along the full width of the building.
Open Shut House
An open-tread floating staircase defines the Dining area with its geometric shapes and structural acrobatics. Its slender shapes are counterpoints to the heavier masonry walls surrounding it.
Open Shut House
This new extension responds to the land’s natural fall by cascading a series of tiered living spaces towards the backyard. Openings via skylights, large windows and courtyards not only draw daylight along the length of the buildings, but provide visual relief along the way.
Open Shut House
The skylights above carve out interesting slivers of shadow and light throughout the day, adding another dimension to the tiered structure of the living spaces.
Open Shut House
The old brick skin of the existing period house is brought inside as a feature interior wall. This is visible from the mezzanine Study, fostering the bond between old and new buildings.
Open Shut House
The old brick skin of the existing period house is brought inside as a feature interior wall. A mezzanine Study has views to the old house and the blue sky above, and is bathed in natural light from the overhead skylights.
Open Shut House
A mezzanine Study has views to the old house and the blue sky above, and is bathed in natural light from the overhead skylights.
Open Shut House
Custom steel shelves and a laminate desk pair well with the natural tones of the timber-veneered wall.
Open Shut House
The old brick skin of the existing period house is brought inside as a feature interior wall. This is visible from the Master Bedroom, fostering the bond between old and new buildings.
Open Shut House
Master Ensuite with its Calacatta marbled vanity counter and undermount sinks.
Open Shut House
Master Ensuite with freestanding bath and skylight overhead.
Open Shut House
Split levels - open plan living zone below and a mezzanine Study above - create a soaring atrium topped by a series of skylights that extend along the full width of the building.
Open Shut House
Photo by Dave Kulesza.
Open Shut House
An elevated terrazzo tiled catwalk is the interstitial space between old and new buildings. The skylights above carve out interesting slivers of shadow and light throughout the day, adding another dimension to the tiered structure of the living spaces.
Open Shut House
A central courtyard sits opposite a long and narrow Kitchen island bench to bring light and borrowed greenery into the space.
Open Shut House
Brass detailing of the Kitchen island.
Open Shut House
Plenty of storage options for the Kitchen back bench. Integrated appliances & fridge are housed in this bank of joinery, as well as a hidden door to reveal a secret butler's pantry.
Open Shut House
Mirror-clad cupboards conceal an overhead rangehood and reflect the green courtyard behind. A Calacatta marble reveal and splashback pair well with the surrounding light-grey 2-pac joinery.
Open Shut House
A long galley-styled Kitchen is sandwiched between Blackbutt-lined ceiling & floor plates. The linear orientation of these timber boards draws one's eye to the rear garden beyond.
Open Shut House
A long and narrow Kitchen island bench extends and overhangs past the steps between Living and Kitchen areas. A central courtyard opposite brings light and borrowed greenery into the space, thereby making the Kitchen feel larger than it is.
Open Shut House
The sunken Living Room is positioned next to the Kitchen with an overhanging island bench that blurs the distinction between these two spaces. Dining/Kitchen/Living spaces are thoughtfully distinguished by the tiered layout as they cascade towards the rear garden.
Open Shut House
The sunken Living Room is positioned next to the Kitchen with an overhanging island bench that blurs the distinction between these two spaces.
Open Shut House
Timber, concrete, marble, brass, glass and plaster. This combination of materials/finishes and their geometries converge at this point to create an interesting visual composition.
Open Shut House
This concrete bench next to the pool functions as a sun-bathed daybed, and quiet spot for reflection and respite.
Open Shut House
Timber, concrete, marble, brass, glass and plaster. This combination of materials/finishes and their geometries converge at this point to create an interesting visual composition.
Open Shut House
A custom entertainment unit was designed to be a focal point in the Living Room. A centrally placed gas fireplace visually anchors the room, with an generous offering of storage cupboards & shelves above. The large-panel cupboard doors slide across the open shelving to reveal a hidden TV alcove.
Open Shut House
A custom entertainment unit was designed to be a focal point in the Living Room. A centrally placed gas fireplace visually anchors the room, with an generous offering of storage cupboards & shelves above. The large-panel cupboard doors slide across the open shelving to reveal a hidden TV alcove.
Open Shut House
Photo by Dave Kulesza.
Open Shut House
The upper level timber shutters can be independently operated by the occupants to control their desired levels of privacy and sunlight. Large glazed pivot doors, when open, fluidly and seamlessly connect the inside and outside spaces.
Open Shut House
The defining material palette of the house is captured here.
Open Shut House
The distinction between outdoor and indoor floor levels is further exaggerated with an elevated pool. Evergreen hedging provide a lovely green backdrop to the pool, visible through the slender flat-bar pool fence.
Open Shut House
Vertically and horizontally laid bricks are placed side-by-side to create interesting lines and shadows across this large wall that flanks the pool. A mirror wall at the pool's end conjures the visual illusion of a much longer pool in this tight and narrow space.
Open Shut House
Vertically and horizontally laid bricks are placed side-by-side to create interesting lines and shadows across this large wall that flanks the pool. A mirror wall at the pool's end conjures the visual illusion of a much longer pool in this tight and narrow space.
Open Shut House
The upper level timber shutters can be independently operated by the occupants to control their desired levels of privacy and sunlight. Large glazed pivot doors, when open, fluidly and seamlessly connect the inside and outside spaces.
Open Shut House
The upper level timber shutters can be independently operated by the occupants to control their desired levels of privacy and sunlight. Large glazed pivot doors, when open, fluidly and seamlessly connect the inside and outside spaces.
Open Shut House