Houzz Tour: A Californian Bungalow Designed to Create Community
This Melbourne house is designed to support and inspire connections between family, friends and the local community
Rebecca Gross
5 September 2019
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design, and I study cultural history through the lens of architecture, design and visual culture. I have a Masters in the History of Decorative Arts and Design from Parsons The New School for Design, New York. My latest book is called "Ornament is not a crime: Contemporary Interiors with a postmodern twist."
Design writer and historian. I write about contemporary architecture and design,... More
This Californian bungalow in Melbourne, Victoria, is home to a family of five that enjoys connecting with their neighbours, friends and local community. “The question became ‘how can these strong connections be incorporated in, and inspire, the design?’,” says Paul Gardiner of Gardiner Architects. “Our intention was to open the house up through the connection of spaces internally while letting the outside in.”
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their three children and the family’s chocolate Labrador, Molly
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 230 square metres; four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms
Architect: Gardiner Architects
Typical to Californian bungalows, the original house had small, dark rooms. It also didn’t provide enough space or opportunity for the family to grow and evolve or to connect with their community. This provided the overriding concept for the reconfiguration of the house and two-storey rear extension.
“The driving force was creating a house linked to the surrounding community with easy side access straight into the heart of the house,” says Gardiner. “A strong relationship to the external environment through well-utilised garden and deck areas, along with controlled sun access and views, also informed a multitude of design decisions.” The client also wanted an energy-efficient house to reduce long-term costs and maintenance.
Who lives here: A couple, their three children and the family’s chocolate Labrador, Molly
Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 230 square metres; four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms
Architect: Gardiner Architects
Typical to Californian bungalows, the original house had small, dark rooms. It also didn’t provide enough space or opportunity for the family to grow and evolve or to connect with their community. This provided the overriding concept for the reconfiguration of the house and two-storey rear extension.
“The driving force was creating a house linked to the surrounding community with easy side access straight into the heart of the house,” says Gardiner. “A strong relationship to the external environment through well-utilised garden and deck areas, along with controlled sun access and views, also informed a multitude of design decisions.” The client also wanted an energy-efficient house to reduce long-term costs and maintenance.
The house is divided into three zones. The children’s bedrooms are upstairs with a rear deck and green roof. The parents’ bedroom, a sitting room and a study are located at the front of the house, while the communal living spaces are positioned at the rear.
Gardiner Architects designed a rear two-storey addition with a pitched offset roof, like the typical gabled roof of a Californian bungalow. “We liked this sensitive approach so that the new extension does not dominate the existing house,” says Gardiner. “In a sense, it could’ve always been there. It looks new in materiality and execution rather than form.”
The sides of the house are clad in sheet metal and the front and back elevations in shiplap timber. Solar panels are fixed to the new roof and a skylight brings natural light into the upper storey.
Shiplap cladding boards: Radial Timber; Custom Orb sheet metal in Zincalume finish: Lysaght
Shiplap cladding boards: Radial Timber; Custom Orb sheet metal in Zincalume finish: Lysaght
The entrance is at the side of the house, identifiable by a colourful mural titled Urban Flora by Alex Scott Douglas. The mural invites family, friends and neighbours down the side lane and into the house as a gesture of the family’s strong desire to connect to their community.
“In a majority of our jobs, we tend to reverse the traditional ideas inherent in the layout of older houses,” says Gardiner. “The entry to a Californian bungalow is typically through the formal front door. But the old idea of coming in the front door where you find the ‘nice room’ – which the children aren’t allowed in, that has the crystal cabinet and granny drinking sherry – is broken down.”
“In a majority of our jobs, we tend to reverse the traditional ideas inherent in the layout of older houses,” says Gardiner. “The entry to a Californian bungalow is typically through the formal front door. But the old idea of coming in the front door where you find the ‘nice room’ – which the children aren’t allowed in, that has the crystal cabinet and granny drinking sherry – is broken down.”
This entrance leads to a door at the side of the living space, so that visitors enter directly into the family area, which can easily adapt and become community space.
There is a multipurpose space with built-in joinery around the perimeter providing window seating, storage and a place to play. Large windows open the living area to the backyard, strengthening the connection between indoors and out.
The living area is part of an open-plan space housing the dining table and kitchen, which also connects to the backyard.
“The clients have three young children and their family life centres around the kitchen. They are also very keen cooks, they preserve fruit, make kombucha, keep bees and chickens, and grow a lot of herbs and vegetables,” says Gardiner.
Gardiner Architects designed a large, open kitchen with a walk-in pantry and plenty of bench space and storage. The kitchen island has an overhanging benchtop to let kids, family and friends gather around. Deep-blue paint on the rear kitchen wall provides a calm backdrop and demarcates the space.
Benchtop in London Grey: Caesarstone; Blackbutt Natural Feature Grade veneer: Ventech
Benchtop in London Grey: Caesarstone; Blackbutt Natural Feature Grade veneer: Ventech
“This strong colour contrasts to the glass and timber that opens to the outside, but it’s recessive rather than trying to stand out,” says Gardiner. “By being recessive, the belongings and features become the hero in the space.”
The kitchen sink faces the backyard to allow for easy supervision and communication when the kids are playing outside.
It also provides a servery window to the outside decked area for alfresco dining and entertaining.
“The outside space is just as important as the inside for the family. Their backyard works hard to provide space for everyone,” says Gardiner. This area includes a cubby house, trampoline, an edible garden and a chicken coop.
A sliding glass door opens the dining area to the deck, and the fold-back windows in the living room let the family’s inside activities spill outside.
“There are a variety of spaces for family, friends and neighbours to gather and sit in an informal setting, connected to both inside and the garden,” says Gardiner.
“There are a variety of spaces for family, friends and neighbours to gather and sit in an informal setting, connected to both inside and the garden,” says Gardiner.
The living area at the front of the house is a rich and colourful space that merges the heritage elements of the bungalow with the family’s personality. As in the kitchen, dark blue wall paint provides a backdrop for the family’s belongings.
“We want the house to match the client’s personality and allow them to adapt the spaces over time,” says Gardiner.
“This family are great collectors and there are always craft projects, children’s art and toys around. We prioritised making small gestures, avoiding the house feeling contrived, where everything has its place. Instead, a backdrop is laid that allows the house to evolve and change alongside the family.”
Lumi pendants: Gineico Lighting
“We want the house to match the client’s personality and allow them to adapt the spaces over time,” says Gardiner.
“This family are great collectors and there are always craft projects, children’s art and toys around. We prioritised making small gestures, avoiding the house feeling contrived, where everything has its place. Instead, a backdrop is laid that allows the house to evolve and change alongside the family.”
Lumi pendants: Gineico Lighting
The parents’ bedroom is at the front of the house, and their ensuite has a view to a hidden courtyard garden that provides further indoor-outdoor connection.
The wallpaper in the powder room also brings the outdoors in with a vibrant botanical print.
Botanica Jungle Fever wallpaper: Emily Ziz
Botanica Jungle Fever wallpaper: Emily Ziz
The central hallway is truly that: it connects the front and back of the house, inside and outside, and upstairs and down, allowing strong visual connections between different spaces and a sense of spaciousness.
The brick wall acts as a spine through the middle of the home and provides texture and thermal mass, as does the concrete floor. Having the two storeys spaced around the stairwell also creates a thermal chimney effect, flushing out hot air and regulating the internal temperature.
A small triangular window at the top of the stairs provides a glimpse of the sky, and the landing offers space for the children’s books and toys.
Ceiling fans, as well as highly insulated external walls, keep the house comfortable throughout the summer, without any need for air conditioning.
Ceiling fans, as well as highly insulated external walls, keep the house comfortable throughout the summer, without any need for air conditioning.
The gabled roof shape creates interesting and dynamic ceilings in the children’s bedrooms and bathroom. Blue mosaic tiles provide a punch of colour and fun in the bathroom, and a skylight brings in natural light over the bathtub.
Appiani Anthologhia tiles: Classic Ceramics
Appiani Anthologhia tiles: Classic Ceramics
An upstairs deck looks over the backyard and is bordered by a rooftop garden with space for bee keeping.
“We always find joy when we get to work with clients who are members of their community and who prioritise creating spaces that bring people together,” says Gardiner. “Whether it’s a playground, a childcare centre or a residential project, the architecture can support activities that allow for and inspire connection. Seeing value in community connectivity allows a project to move beyond hero architecture.”
Your turn
What do you love most about this home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great design? Don’t miss this India Houzz Tour: A Home Stripped Back to its Original Character
Your turn
What do you love most about this home? Tell us in the Comments, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great design? Don’t miss this India Houzz Tour: A Home Stripped Back to its Original Character
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We're so pleased to read all these lovely comments and hear the different aspects people liked about the project! Thank you :)
Beautiful home inside and outside. Enjoy...
Love all the personality & happy vibes! A very thoughtful re-do.