Project Of The Week
Architecture
Popular Houzz Series
Popular Houzz Series
Appears in
See also
Fun HouzzFrom The ProsHouzz Around The WorldProject Of The WeekStickybeak Of The WeekQuizzesCreatives At HomeAt Home With...Best Of The WeekRoom Of The WeekDesigner Profiles3 Things I Wish My Clients KnewHow Do I...Buyer's GuidesExpert EyeInnovation AlertSo Your Style Is...Spotted!Picture PerfectBefore & AfterBudget BreakdownHome TimeMade Local
Perfect Mismatch: A Space-Age Pod Addition for a Heritage Home
A contemporary, multi-purpose pod provides the owners of a Victorian terrace in Sydney with the extra space they need
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, Damien Abicic, architect and principal at Pivot design studio, reveals how adding a freestanding pod to a four-bedroom, two-bathroom Victorian terrace gave the owners the additional space they craved.
Gained
- A new two-storey addition at the rear of the original house. The addition contains an open-plan kitchen, powder room and living area (that doubles as a studio space) on the ground floor, and a bedroom (that doubles as an office) with an ensuite on the first floor.
- The new addition is freestanding and self-contained, and can be accessed through the original house or via the back lane.
What was the house like originally?
It was a two-storey Victorian terrace house in Sydney’s inner west.
Thinking of extending? Find an architect near you on Houzz to chat about your ideas
It was a two-storey Victorian terrace house in Sydney’s inner west.
Thinking of extending? Find an architect near you on Houzz to chat about your ideas
What was the client’s brief?
The client requested the biggest possible freestanding building to sit at the rear of the yard. The new addition needed to integrate with the existing house and its context, and also work with council’s planning requirements.
The client wanted one big room with a kitchen downstairs that could also double as a living space or studio. They requested a bedroom with an ensuite that could also double as an office on the first floor.
The client requested the biggest possible freestanding building to sit at the rear of the yard. The new addition needed to integrate with the existing house and its context, and also work with council’s planning requirements.
The client wanted one big room with a kitchen downstairs that could also double as a living space or studio. They requested a bedroom with an ensuite that could also double as an office on the first floor.
What problems did this project address?
The biggest constraint was an aesthetic one. We completed another studio in 2013, Erskineville Studio One, which sits just two lots away from this site. The first studio expresses a fairly uncommon form and material treatment and is the newest addition to the streetscape, so the new work here had to respond to it. As a result, the material selections and detailing treatments in the new building reflected those found in the first studio.
The biggest constraint was an aesthetic one. We completed another studio in 2013, Erskineville Studio One, which sits just two lots away from this site. The first studio expresses a fairly uncommon form and material treatment and is the newest addition to the streetscape, so the new work here had to respond to it. As a result, the material selections and detailing treatments in the new building reflected those found in the first studio.
Ground-floor plan of the new addition
How does the new addition sit beside the original home?
The new work is a complete contrast next to the existing house. The new addition takes its cues from Erskineville Studio One, which is a couple of doors down, and the two studios are intended to work as a pair – to have their own unique features, yet share a dialogue.
In saying that, there had to be some level of dialogue between the existing house and the new addition, and this was done with the white fence line that connects the two.
How does the new addition sit beside the original home?
The new work is a complete contrast next to the existing house. The new addition takes its cues from Erskineville Studio One, which is a couple of doors down, and the two studios are intended to work as a pair – to have their own unique features, yet share a dialogue.
In saying that, there had to be some level of dialogue between the existing house and the new addition, and this was done with the white fence line that connects the two.
First-floor plan of the new addition
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Removed a small shed at the rear of the property and put in a new, freestanding two-storey studio.
Tell us about the kitchen
The ground-floor kitchen is under the stairs, and both elements are integrated in order to be as space-efficient as possible. All the joinery is laminate plywood, which is more luxurious and costly than your typical painted polyurethane/MDF option.
The ground-floor kitchen is under the stairs, and both elements are integrated in order to be as space-efficient as possible. All the joinery is laminate plywood, which is more luxurious and costly than your typical painted polyurethane/MDF option.
Where did most of the budget go?
When working in tight urban areas such as this one, a lot of the budget always goes on getting out of the ground and getting the concrete slab in. Also, boundaries often need to be redefined and corrected due to breaches from neighbours over the years.
This particular project wasn’t too bad in terms of the boundaries. But getting the slab down on a corner site with pedestrian paths on two sides required hoardings (a temporary fence around the construction site supported by framing) and specifying a slab that was below-grade (lower than the natural ground level). This meant we needed to add in steps and retaining walls – all of which took a fair bit of the budget.
In addition, the cladding system we specified went over and above regulations to meet the thermal and acoustic requirements requested by the client.
When working in tight urban areas such as this one, a lot of the budget always goes on getting out of the ground and getting the concrete slab in. Also, boundaries often need to be redefined and corrected due to breaches from neighbours over the years.
This particular project wasn’t too bad in terms of the boundaries. But getting the slab down on a corner site with pedestrian paths on two sides required hoardings (a temporary fence around the construction site supported by framing) and specifying a slab that was below-grade (lower than the natural ground level). This meant we needed to add in steps and retaining walls – all of which took a fair bit of the budget.
In addition, the cladding system we specified went over and above regulations to meet the thermal and acoustic requirements requested by the client.
The white fence cleverly steps down in the centre to let natural light flood through a window, then rises again to form a privacy screen
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
The white fence line that connects the new addition and the existing house is conceptualised as a wall for the new building as well as a fence. The white, ground-floor cladding of the new building extends to the existing house and terminates at a point where its continuation into the existing house can inform any future renovation works.
How is the new extension connected to the original house?
The white fence line that connects the new addition and the existing house is conceptualised as a wall for the new building as well as a fence. The white, ground-floor cladding of the new building extends to the existing house and terminates at a point where its continuation into the existing house can inform any future renovation works.
The upstairs ensuite
What challenges did you have to work around?
The client was great and had a real vision for a fabulous, quality building so there were no challenges there.
The biggest challenge was the planning stages with council. There was no escaping that the form of the building was challenging and unusual and didn’t fit within the exact ‘framework’ of what council guidelines called for. But working to my advantage was an equally unusual building sitting virtually next door, which was contextually successful, and made a positive contribution to the rather dire rear lane where it was located.
I was more nervous than usual entering into the planning stages, but to my shock and delight, I was allocated a planner who was keen to work with me to approve a great building for the site. There were some minor modifications made and we got it done.
What challenges did you have to work around?
The client was great and had a real vision for a fabulous, quality building so there were no challenges there.
The biggest challenge was the planning stages with council. There was no escaping that the form of the building was challenging and unusual and didn’t fit within the exact ‘framework’ of what council guidelines called for. But working to my advantage was an equally unusual building sitting virtually next door, which was contextually successful, and made a positive contribution to the rather dire rear lane where it was located.
I was more nervous than usual entering into the planning stages, but to my shock and delight, I was allocated a planner who was keen to work with me to approve a great building for the site. There were some minor modifications made and we got it done.
We love the curves – tell us about them
Curves are a common feature in my projects. Here, the curved corner softens the impact of the building to the street.
You can see curves, angles and unusual directions in the cladding treatments in both this building and the other nearby studio. Such treatments can define scale, play tricks on the eye, and create relationships with other site elements, such as the existing fence here.
Why do you think this extension works so well?
Because it’s not trying to be the Victorian terrace it shares the site with. Plus, the new kitchen is both unusual and stunning in its angles and storage design.
Curves are a common feature in my projects. Here, the curved corner softens the impact of the building to the street.
You can see curves, angles and unusual directions in the cladding treatments in both this building and the other nearby studio. Such treatments can define scale, play tricks on the eye, and create relationships with other site elements, such as the existing fence here.
Why do you think this extension works so well?
Because it’s not trying to be the Victorian terrace it shares the site with. Plus, the new kitchen is both unusual and stunning in its angles and storage design.
A pocket sliding door maximises space in the first-floor bedroom and ensuite
Key features
Key features
- Beautiful cladding that creates a dialogue with nearby Erskineville Studio One.
- The curved rear corner is a simple yet effective measure that softens the building’s impact on the site and street.
- The white fence line that connects the new building to the existing house acts as a wall, fence and starting point for the next stage of renovations to the existing house down the track.
- The joinery detailing to the stairs and kitchen is of high quality.
- The kitchen/storage/stair design maximises space.
Interior materials palette
Exterior materials palette
Paint colours
- Kitchen joinery in DMK white laminate plywood.
- Corian kitchen benchtop in Glacier White.
- LPA Lighting fixtures.
- Spotted-gum flooring.
Exterior materials palette
- Cedar and pine external cladding. The cedar is oiled with Cutek clear coating to allow the wood to naturally grey over time.
- Trim in black powder-coated aluminium.
- Steel trim painted in Dulux Ferrodor enamel in Natural Grey.
Paint colours
- Dulux Natural White used internally and externally.
Your turn
Are you as wowed by this clever addition as we are? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more inspiring extensions? You’ll love this rear addition – Beautiful Bones: The Gentle Reimagining of a Heritage Home
Are you as wowed by this clever addition as we are? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more inspiring extensions? You’ll love this rear addition – Beautiful Bones: The Gentle Reimagining of a Heritage Home
Answers by Damien Abicic, architect and principal at Pivot
Who lives here: The owners of the existing terrace built this new pod-like addition at the rear of their site to accommodate visiting family. The space also serves as a home office and studio for their family business.
Location: Erskineville, NSW
Size of the house: Approximately 90 square metres (no change after works)
Size of the new addition: Approximately 46 square metres
Budget: Approximately $200,000.
Architect and builder: Pivot