The brief for the ‘Brick Residence’ Elsternwick was to undertake a modest extension, creating a larger light-filled family home which respected and preserved the legacy of the original classic modernist house designed by Ernest Fooks; and remarkably retained in the family since its commission by our clients Grandfather in 1951.
The extension is positioned to the south of the block and extends to the east providing an expansive new northern façade and strategically blocks out a large house to the south that overlooked the backyard. The new wing creates an L shape providing a focus on the garden from multiple rooms. The proposal takes cues from the classic modernist house and a slim new concrete roof slips under the existing timber eave. Bricks from the original garage have been recycled and a wall between the kitchen and study presented an opportunity for a series of playful antique glazed apertures.
Conceptually the project proposes a series of spaces organised within masonry walls constructed of recycled bricks from the original garage that was demolished. These walls are then capped with a large thin singular concrete roof that is exposed internally and slides under the existing eave line, clearly delineating old and new. Internally the new recycled blonde bricks are exposed in the mid-section of the extension and then painted towards the rear where an angled wall and subtle curve is introduced in contrast to the original rectilinear planning; yet referencing a peculiar single angled wall at the rear of the original house.
A new larger kitchen, the heart of this family home, is reorientated to address the dining room and terrace directly, as well as importantly sit within the linking space between old and new. The new exposed concrete ceiling is first experienced from above the end of the kitchen, and the existing ceiling is defined with painted lining boards connecting through to the dining room.
Joinery in the study and WIR divides the spaces between the primary brick walls and is conceived as crafted furniture elements.
Material Used :
1. Roof: Concrete – In-Situ off form finish.
2. External Walls: Recycled/salvaged brickwork
3. Internal Walls: Recycled/salvaged brickwork, Easycraft – Easygroove wall panelling
4. Windows: Custom – Hardwood Timber -– Paint finish
5. Doors: Custom – Hardwood Timber
6. Flooring:
- Victorian Ash Timber Floorboards - Bona Traffic Satin water based polyurethane Finish
- Carpet – SuperTuft, color: Divine
7. Lighting:
Dining: Douglas and Bec – Y Chandelier 04
Kitchen: ECC Lighting – Axis Surface mounted down light
Ross Gardam – Ora pendant light
Study: Re-used existing fittings
Great Dane – Belleview wall wight
Bedroom: Oxley Butterworth - Marquise medium pendant lights
8. Kitchen: Appliances: Bosch
Joinery: 2pac paint finish – Dulux Tiamo / Granite Benchtops (supplier)
9. Bathroom:
Fittings and fixtures: AstraWalker
Joinery & Materials: Fibonacci - terrazzo floor tiles – Storm
Tiento Tiles – Kit Kat, white glazed porcelain tiles.
Vanity basin - Dupont Corian– Glacier White
Blackbutt Timber Veneer - Ventech
10. External Elements: Flooring - EcoOutdoor Endicott crazy paving
11. Other: Joinery: Blackbutt Timber Veneer - Ventech
