Renovating
Pint-Sized Additions That Unleash Their Home's Potential
These architecturally designed homes prove that when it comes to renovations, you need better planning, not more space
A common goal of a renovation project is to gain more space for your family, but try this on for size: you probably don’t need that large extension you’ve been imagining – as these small homes and their even smaller additions prove. By getting an architect on board, you may well be able to find ways to rearrange and better use your existing spaces. Then, all you’ll need is a pint-sized addition like these…
Inside, light and honest materials such as limed plywood, aluminium and soft grey concrete give the homeowners a simple and serene space that feels like an outdoor sanctuary. Thanks to the reconfiguration of the back of the house, architect Philip Stejskal was able to limit the size of the extension, keeping as much garden as possible, and then create strong connections to the garden, making the extra room feel more spacious and generous than it is in reality. The view of the garden and sky year-round doesn’t hurt, either.
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Project: House Reduction by MAKE Architecture
What they did: Removed a series of dilapidated and poorly-planned lean-tos from the rear of the home and replaced with a modest addition, reducing the overall footprint of the home.
Result: Some must have thought the owners of House Reduction were crazy when they explained they were paying for a renovation that would make their home smaller! But the outcome of this renovation is stunning and proves you don’t necessarily need more space.
What they did: Removed a series of dilapidated and poorly-planned lean-tos from the rear of the home and replaced with a modest addition, reducing the overall footprint of the home.
Result: Some must have thought the owners of House Reduction were crazy when they explained they were paying for a renovation that would make their home smaller! But the outcome of this renovation is stunning and proves you don’t necessarily need more space.
A big reason this renovation was so successful is the excellent connection to the outdoors, provided by sliding screens that recede to completely open the rear of the house to the garden.
Project: The Dragonfly by Built-Environment Practice
What they did: Built a bedroom and ensuite that’s detached from the original home, which takes full advantage of a lush tropical garden and reduced construction costs.
Result: The Dragonfly is a tiny detached bedroom and ensuite which, just like its winged namesake, appears to hover alongside an existing holiday home. Rather than undertake an intensive and extensive renovation of the existing house, Chris Knapp, head of Built-Environment Practice, instead opted to build this delightful freestanding space. This achieves two key objectives: it saves money and it gives the new bedroom and ensuite a wonderful sense of whimsy, which helps occupants overlook its compact size.
What they did: Built a bedroom and ensuite that’s detached from the original home, which takes full advantage of a lush tropical garden and reduced construction costs.
Result: The Dragonfly is a tiny detached bedroom and ensuite which, just like its winged namesake, appears to hover alongside an existing holiday home. Rather than undertake an intensive and extensive renovation of the existing house, Chris Knapp, head of Built-Environment Practice, instead opted to build this delightful freestanding space. This achieves two key objectives: it saves money and it gives the new bedroom and ensuite a wonderful sense of whimsy, which helps occupants overlook its compact size.
“Less is more – with careful planning and the ability to leverage opportunities that already exist on site, a small project can punch above its weight, especially in a subtropical climate that affords strong dialogue with the natural environment,” explains Knapp. With a spacious-feeling bedroom and priceless glimpses of lush green garden, The Dragonfly certainly adds a lot more to this home than its tiny footprint would suggest.
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See more photos of this project
Project: House 6 by Welsh + Major Architects
What they did: Fitted a new kitchen and dining space into an addition of just 6 square metres, freeing up much needed space in the rest of the house.
Result: This pint-sized renovation is called House 6 because it adds just 6 square metres to the existing family home – but how those few square metres have transformed the existing space! A continuing theme is that a connection to outdoor spaces can make a small space feel much larger. This tiny extension offers a new kitchen and dining area, which opens seamlessly to the garden thanks to two glass walls that slide open to dissolve the entire corner of the room.
What they did: Fitted a new kitchen and dining space into an addition of just 6 square metres, freeing up much needed space in the rest of the house.
Result: This pint-sized renovation is called House 6 because it adds just 6 square metres to the existing family home – but how those few square metres have transformed the existing space! A continuing theme is that a connection to outdoor spaces can make a small space feel much larger. This tiny extension offers a new kitchen and dining area, which opens seamlessly to the garden thanks to two glass walls that slide open to dissolve the entire corner of the room.
Inside, a large window takes in views of the sky, visually expanding the space in another dimension. This generous window serves the extra benefit of bathing the cooking and meals zones in natural light, making it a joyous space to use. “Doing something small, and doing it well, can transform a space,” says David Welsh, co-founder of Welsh + Major Architects. “Quality, not quantity, is the key to unlocking the potential of small houses.”
See more photos of this project
See more photos of this project
Project: Camelia Cottage by 4site architecture
What they did: Added a small, bright joinery unit that crosses from inside to outside to provide additional storage and enclose an existing outside toilet. The design team also enclosed an existing light-well to make additional living space.
Result: Camelia Cottage is a tiny but clever alteration and extension to an existing terrace home. The design team created a small but colourful new joinery unit that wraps around the existing toilet extension. This colourful skin does more than just look good – it provides a lot of additional storage and visually connects the indoors and outdoors, too.
What they did: Added a small, bright joinery unit that crosses from inside to outside to provide additional storage and enclose an existing outside toilet. The design team also enclosed an existing light-well to make additional living space.
Result: Camelia Cottage is a tiny but clever alteration and extension to an existing terrace home. The design team created a small but colourful new joinery unit that wraps around the existing toilet extension. This colourful skin does more than just look good – it provides a lot of additional storage and visually connects the indoors and outdoors, too.
The design team maintained the existing windows in the living room, which give a sense of the home’s past. A new space tucked between the renovated lounge area and the boundary doubles as both an informal sitting area and a delightful light-well. An ingenious storage platform provides additional seating and plenty of extra storage, which is essential in a small home. This is another great example of one element serving multiple uses. Kevin Hui, principal of 4site architects, describes the addition to Camelia Cottage as “a blossom in the monotonous heritage green, salmon pink, beige and corrugated sheeting urban landscape.”
TELL US
How has an addition transformed the way you use your home? Share your stories and tips in the Comments.
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TELL US
How has an addition transformed the way you use your home? Share your stories and tips in the Comments.
MORE
9 Ultra-Modern Additions That Break the Mould
Superb Family Homes Pop Up in Leftover Urban Spaces
Mental Tricks to Help You Outsmart Your Small Space
What they did: Added a small 20-square-metre addition, which opens the home to the garden.
Result: By adding a modest 20 square metres and refurbishing 15 square metres of the existing home, the design team created a much more lifestyle-conscious layout for the homeowners. The addition now offers a new compact bathroom and a versatile living area. With the help of windows, shutters and sliding panels, the addition dissolves into the surrounding garden, defying its small footprint and bringing the owners in touch with nature, connecting them to changes in the weather.