A Builder's own Home

Home complete. The shadows evident on the front facing south side All the sun reserved for the living areas

What sort of home does a builder build for himself?

This project was a great opportunity to reorient the clients 'sketch' inside out to take advantage of a northern aspect. I was presented with a sketch design of a very typical home that tucked itself away from the winter sun and huddled up to the side fence facing south east. This would mean a cold damp outdoor and living area through the winter. 
A rectangular corner block, with north at 45 degrees across one of the street frontages which was rising above the lot it did present some challenge but planning the house at that 45 degrees to the square block, while not neat does present a wonderful opportunity to take in the winter sun with large tall living room windows and creates interesting outdoor living areas and solutions.

This next image has the sun set to 12 o'clock midday June 21st, the designated middle of winter and it shows the deep penetration of the winter sun into the living areas.  When you orient your house correctly you will reduce the need for artificial heating and cooling because the design will passively work for you.

Conversely in the summer, the sun will be high in the sky and the simple eave will prevent the entry of any sun into the windows facing directly north all day and prevent that same sun from heating the house keeping it cooler.  Positioning the right windows in the best location will also allow the local sea breeze to cool the house as quickly as possible.

 We did explore different colour schemes so it will be interesting to see how it all comes out in the final build

And it is happening.

It's enjoyable working on projects, gradually crafting them until it all comes together in a great solution. This project is a renovation of a tired old home subject to several renovations of the past, giving it a whole new life. It enjoys wide views across the road to open parkland yet the initial eaves chopped off the view to anything more than a narrow slot. By raising a section of the living room roof in a dormer like shape, and turning the eaves up elsewhere instead of continuing the natural rafter fall, we gain a significant amount of view to the treeline and sky of this beautiful outlook. 
Old school elements are being removed to balconies, roof tiles are replaced with colorbond to give a contemporary look, brickwork is being rendered and older style claddings will be replaced to match the render below.

This is a very extensive renovation and overhaul of the whole house to update it and take better advantage of it's prime outlook and orientation. 

The large areas of glass overlooking the park also ideally face north and will allow full penetration of winter sunshine, warming the house in the colder months.

The home will be upgradable with a sizable solar panel system for full power creation free from the sun which will be used to power a heat pump for hot water.

A new double garage to the side street will integrate an aflresco dining area complete with outdoor kitchen.  Sandstone tiles applied to the brick walls will feature in a number of places across the elevation to tie the wide elevation together facing two streets.

The existing street elevation is tired and no longer meets the needs or expectations of the owners.  Time for an overhaul.

French Provincial Farmhouse with ocean views.

Working on this new residence for a repeat client with a love of old world charm, particularly of the influences of French Provincial architecture, more from the rugged farmhouse side than the more formal city models.  It has views to the side over the neighbourhood to the ocean and with strict rules about overlooking and varying heights from the natural levels plus other rules about garages and setbacks we have arrived at an interesting solution with six different levels plus a flourish involving a tower and a secret staircase access giving a raised platform to hide away with a book and private views to the ocean. Great place for a hammock to be strung and a bookcase to be built.

The property itself has a significant slope which directs some changes in the levels anyway and I need to lower one side of the house and raise the other to be able to look over to the ocean without being so close to the neighbour to trigger overlooking prohibitions.

Interesting sites and strict rules create opportunities for wonderful solutions.
A raised indoor/outdoor room at the top will enjoy the views and be able to be enjoyed year around.  Concertina doors and windows will open up for summer parties and entertaining and can be closed for winter months to enjoy as another living area.  Having the views and the northern sun it will be a comfortable space year round.

Four villas

Four villas as a development replacement of a single old house.