Sitting stealthy behind the original heritage home, Wattletree House expands its presence through a newly defined footprint. Ensuring the original Edwardian era frontage remains the focus from approach, the addition is cloaked in a darked palette to emphasise its recessive intent, yet still has a unique boldness. In an honouring of the established nature and scale of homes in the area, the preservation of heritage was a key driver throughout, opting to celebrate the differences between old and new by way of contrast, instead of mimicking styles throughout. Stretching the original silhouette further and deeper into the site to engage more meaningfully with the laneway to the Southeast, the addition extrudes the mass of the home to the rear, taking on a more rectilinear form.

Spread over two levels, a new butterfly-shaped roof reduces the overall pitch of the addition, allowing for the additional level to be inserted. Creating connections between inside and out was integral to lifestyle, with framed views from within and the weaving the new landscape in amongst the existing. In allowing a more flowing movement between inside and out, the outdoor entertaining areas and landscape become destinations of their own, bookending the site. As a balancing to the prominent red brick and terracotta roof tiles on site, a muted layering of greys tones was utilised across the site to modernise the ornate detailing and find a point of connection between old and new. Activating the site and bringing light deeper into the everyday experience of the home was also key to how the home functioned. The opening up of the existing home draws the main activities of family life and communal gathering to occur in a more openly connected setting. Generous insertions of glazing and skylights above, then bring more of an obvious natural connection between inside and out. Expressing its verticality, extrusions of the new form articulate the facade to the rear, extending outward and creating deep reveals that double for solar control. Operable elements then allow the home to become naturally ventilated, focussing on a robust low maintenance throughout. The resulting and binding palette across the site is then comprised of selections based on their longevity, together with natural stone and timber to add a sense of animation to various surfaces. In breaking up the formality of the original home, the new gestures ensure a continued relevance prevails, as a readying for legacy.

The existing dwelling and site presented the challenge that it was located on a busy street that was to the north with the main goal to avoid as much windows to the street.
with the site not being exactly parallel with north it allowed us to bring some north/west glazing to the side elevation but also meant tge rear elevation where going to be in the westerly aspect paticulsrly in summer as tge sun swings.
protecting these facades was going to be an important factor in design.

The existing dwelling and site presented the challenge that it was located on a busy street that was to the north with the main goal to avoid as much windows facing the street.
with the site not being exactly parallel with north it allowed us to bring some north/west glazing to the side elevation but also meant tge rear elevation where going to be in the westerly aspect paticulsrly in summer as tge sun swings.
protecting these facades was going to be an important factor in design.

- onsite water retension and grey water use
- stair void allowing as much northerly sun to punch threw to center of dwelling
- externals blind to kids westerly summer sun
- retention of existing decidous tree to help shade the dwelling from harsh summer sun
- outdoor entertaining area design with large flaoting overhang to west
- butterfly roof allowing maximum solar panel to north
- onsite renewable energy with max solar panels and battery system.
- no gas
- maximises existing dwelling footprint.
- durable australian made materials.
- low e glass
- maximises existing dwelling footprint. with minimal demolition
- durable australian made materials.
-Solar Hot water system
- operable windows located for cross ventilation
- Daylight maximised , LED fittings
- Solar PV system with batteries
- operable windows located for cross ventilation
- high performace alumnium improved double glazed windows with low -e
- maximum new insulation to existing dwelling

The layout/design reflects a growing young professional family the allows for yearly international family and friends to visit without impending on the family space.
The first floor addition allows the kids to grow into the space and never grow out of it.
It really epitomises a multi-generation type home.

The design of the home reflects occupants that are proud green thumbs.
Presenting many visuals and operable sections to external elements at the same time creating a home that's energy efficient and comfortable to live in.

Internally the colour pallets reprints a soft organic feel. Easy on the eye it presents a monochromatic feel that's Brocken up with natural oak timber and and and olive green that brings a hint of the external colour pallet internally.
The layout perfect for entertaining. With spaces to gather and open to the externals, and littered with informal break out spaces. Wether it be around the island bench, on the bench seat looking over the courtyard or the alfresco enjoying a sunset fire whilst the kids have a swim.
No matter time year or weather it has a nook to nestle into.

One you step into the rear addition. It was important to open and create as much visuals to the open space.
Different aspects of the architecture the open up as well as frame areas of the rear.
With no internal fire place. The external fire place within the alfresco still creates that visual warm bookending the dining and allowing the dining space to still spill out to the outdoor area even on a cold night.
Everywhere you look on the ground floor presents a garden aspect

The dining room traditionally is an area that's formally tucked away into a corner create formality.
Here we elected to located it in probably the most important part of the rear addition.
And it works perfectly.
The location allows it to be formal as well as informal.
Opening up the sliding doors allows the space to connect to the pool area and extend the alfresco as the informal gathering space.
Bookending the outdoor fireplace to the dining adds mood and ambience to the dining space the it may have otherwise missed if in another location.
The bench seat allows conversation to continue off the table to enjoy views over the dividing lightcourt.
Otherwise it becomes a reading nook during the day soaking up them northern rays.

Open up the doors of a beautiful day and you have an indoor area that flows seamlessly into the outdoors with visions of the the external architecture framing landscape elements sitting proud of the ground floor footprint.

A minor detail we love is the when these doors are closed being able to walk in and around the structural vertical fins. Externally. And in this area not feeling like they defying the ground floor structure and openings to internal.

Team:

Architects: Design by AD

Engineers:  Azstruct Consulting Group

Buiklder:  Y Projects

Photographer: Tatjana Plitt

Materials Used:

sofa: king living
Stools: Life Interiors Whywood Bar Stool
dining table: naturessecret.
Chairs: Drew Chair Brosa
Coffee table: Fenton & Fenton
Basins: ABI
Tapware: GREENS
Colourbond: Matt Monument
Limesotne: tundra
evaya:  blinds
Artist: Tommy Huyhn
Miele: ovens, cooktop, dishwasher
Rangehood: Schweigen
Fridges: liebher