Turning constraints into opportunities KUD Green elements Courtyards allow for cross ventilation The kitchen and living areas are orientated to maximise natural light Low-maintenance materials were used The faux Victorian style of the 1970s house originally on the site wasn t the contemporary home the owners were looking for, so they were keen to demolish it and start again. The owners and the architect were in agreement about complete demolition. However, this decision meant that setbacks under the current building and planning codes would need to be adhered to. As the site is only 7 metres wide and 9 metres long, providing the accommodation required was a challenge. Fortunately, the house occupies a corner site, allowing one party wall to encroach on the boundary. Insider s tip to come The new house is constructed from glazed bricks, fibro cement panels and corrugated steel. A pitched steel roof extends from the front door to the rear courtyard. I wanted to maximise the natural light. But I also wanted to include a second level, says architect Billy Kavellaris. On the ground floor are the lounge, study, kitchen and meals area. A courtyard features concertinaed glass doors that can open on either side to allow for cross ventilation. A small laundry and powder room lead from the kitchen. The garage can be accessed from the courtyard, as well as from the street. The budget was fairly tight so there weren t sufficient funds to fully enclose the garage, says Kavellaris. While the kitchen is quite small, it features quality appliances. Framed by black lacquered MDF joinery and a central stone island bench, the kitchen has a luxurious feel.
On the first floor of the house are two bedrooms, both with ensuite bathrooms, and a study. The owners can also use the study on the ground floor as an extra bedroom or guestroom as required. The ground floor features concrete floors, with other materials bought off the shelf. Many of the fixtures and fittings were bought at a hardware store. Little, if anything was customised, he adds. First floor plan 11 1 13 6 13 1 1 7 9 1 Entry Lounge 3 Court Bedroom /study 5 Meals / living 6 Kitchen 7 Bathroom 8 Yard 9 Laundry 10 Garage 11 Void 1 Study 13 Ensuite 1 Bedroom 10 1 3 5 8 Ground floor plan 0 3m Turning constraints into opportunities
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Brief Project notes The owners wanted three bedrooms and to maximise the building envelope. Constraints and concessions A second storey above the garage couldn t be provided. Initially, this area would have been used as a studio and second living area for the children. Also, the garage wasn t fully enclosed so access is gained from either the street or from the rear courtyard. The study on the ground floor can also be used as a bedroom. To allow for this, the architect included a shower in the powder room. Hydronic heating and cooling was installed at ground level. However, to reduce both operating and installation costs, the emphasis on the first floor is on passive cross ventilation. Timeframe One year for design and documentation, including planning permission, and ten months to build. 6 Turning constraints into opportunities
Green elements Cross-ventilation Orientation to maximise sunlight High level of insulation for walls Insider s tip Try to use materials that are finished, rather than those that require further work, and use them in imaginative ways. You don t need to spend hundreds of dollars on tiles some fantastic tiles can be found in hardware stores. Perforated house KUD ARCHITECTS This house is far more than just a clever façade. Located in a heritage streetscape in inner-city Melbourne, it features a perforated façade that peels back to reveal a fine contemporary home. Designed and built by architect Billy Kavellaris, this modest house is embellished with rich ideas. The sliver of a site, 5.5 metres wide by 30 metres deep, was once the adjacent period home s garden. The site was further subdivided to allow a second house to be constructed at the rear. To ensure the design was approved by the local council and neighbours concerned with maintaining the heritage area, the architect designed a two-storey perforated aluminium screen. Instead of traditional windows, sections of this screen can be manually retracted to open up the house. The perforated aluminium screen is set apart from the black glass behind it, allowing people to see out, but not in. Although the unorthodox façade attracts onlookers, it s the mechanics behind it that interests architects. Complete with glass balustrade and open-plan living areas, the house takes on a completely different appearance when opened up. Like the façade, the interior is anything but traditional. While there is the usual lobby, it also doubles as a reading area. And instead of the main bedroom being hidden towards the rear of the house, it s immediately visible from the entrance. Located behind a glass wall, this bedroom can be screened by a curtain. You can enjoy the streetscape lying in bed or reading in the entrance, says Kavellaris. The two bedrooms on the ground floor are separated by a bathroom with translucent glass walls. There s also a European style laundry and powder room to one side of the passage. When you re designing a house this size, you need to borrow space, says Kavellaris, who used the neighbour s weeping birch tree as a focal point for the second bedroom.
In contrast to the ground floor, there are no partitions on the first floor of the house. When the perforated screen is pulled back on one side and the floor-to-ceiling glass doors to the terrace are opened on the other, the living spaces are exposed to the elements. I wanted to ensure good cross-ventilation. But I also wanted to create a number of experiences, says Kavellaris. The terrace has also been given a contemporary twist. Instead of potted palms, there s a satirical mural by artist Emma Burmeister, which depicts a clothesline, a barbeque and even children playing on a swing. Perforated house
Location Melbourne, Victoria, Australia Brief Project notes A contemporary family home for the architect, his partner and two young children Constraints and concessions A tank to hold grey water was not provided, as there wasn t sufficient room on the site. The architect could have excavated to allow for this, but the cost was prohibitive. Instead of two bathrooms, there is one shared bathroom with access from each bedroom. Timeframe Kavellaris built the house himself as the builder who was initially contracted pulled out at the last moment. The house took 1 months to build. Kavellaris estimates it would have taken eight months if a builder had done the job. 9 8 10 11 Wilson Street First floor 7 5 1 3 3 1 Entry foyer Study 3 Bedroom Ensuite 5 Powder room 6 Courtyard 7 Store 8 Living 9 Kitchen 10 Dining 11 Terrace Ground floor 6 Perforated house