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Project posted by

Quarry House

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Location
Victoria
Year
2023
Project Types
Residential
CREDITS
Posted by
Consultants
Builder: B.F.C Built Landscape Design: Woven Landscapes
Photographed by
Rory Gardiner
Quarry House is a response to sites constraints and historical use as a worker’s cottage and adjacency to the former Northcote quarry. Key considerations were resource use and how the reintroduction of light, air and vegetation could be achieved on the site. Introducing internal courtyards, where boundaries are defined by brick walls and life is brought back to the land and residence. Designing around the garden space allowed for a design that can expand and contract to adapt to functional requirements and future use. It manifests an atmosphere enriched by sustainable design and detailed architectural craftmanship.
The project renovates the existing frontage and retains the single storey form, minimising the impact on the neighbours and future development.  The recessive extension to the north, follow the rhythm of the streetscape.  Retaining and restoring the positive contribution the heritage façade makes to the community of buildings in the narrow street.  The front verandah and vegetable garden in the front yard encourage community interaction.

A new extension to the existing cottage, adds wardrobe and ensuite space, allowing the front rooms to feel more generous without altering their form.  A high-ceilinged extension in the centre of the site, with courtyards on either side combines the dining, living and kitchen area.  Separated by an internal courtyard a multipurpose room is constructed at the rear of the site.  Allowing changing use over time, from a guest room to home office, to additional bedroom, to a play area to a study as the needs of the family change over time.  The courtyards function as external rooms within the plan, maximising the use of the modest site.  The main living area, central courtyard and rear multipurpose room can be opened to form one large space. The use of a few elements that integrate storage to define and organise space results in a plan that achieves a complexity of spatial and functional conditions with minimum means.  The raw materiality of the concrete, blockwork, and timber structure add to the quality of the space.  The elements that were used to create the project bring a lot to the spatial and practical experience of the space creating value with the resources used.

Working with Woven landscapes to improve the connections between the interior and exterior spaces was critical to the success of the project.   Passive design drives the response to the site.  The extension provides ample cross-ventilation, solar access, connections to external spaces and thermal mass.  Insulation and high-performance glazing combined with in-slab hydronic heating and the 6.5kW solar PV array result in a low-energy home.

Quarry house was designed to maximise the use of the site to create a family-home that can adapt to the clients needs over time. The design of the multi-purpose room and the sense of space created in the extension through the volume and connections to the external spaces ensures an enjoyable and functional home.
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