Solomon Troup Architects explored a number of choices when engaged to rework this Nineteen Eighties brick home in Level Lonsdale, on Victoria’s Bellarine Peninsula.

The transient was to show the properly lived-in dwelling (that beforehand accommodated a household of 5) right into a extra purposeful area appropriate for the purchasers’ retirement.

Full demolition of the present home was on the desk, however the architects noticed worth in retaining many of the authentic dwelling and including solely a modest extension.

‘Our intent for this mission was to scale back the quantity of building waste created by retaining and reusing as a lot of the present constructing cloth as potential,’ says Lachlan Troup, director of Solomon Troup Architects. ‘This was equally probably the most difficult but additionally rewarding a part of the mission.’

Parts of the present home to the east and west have been retained, with reconfigured and repaired communal areas (kitchen, eating, and residing areas) in between.

A 40 sq. metre extension (added to the facet of the house, on the location’s north) incorporates the brand new primary bed room and en suite, oriented to obtain western solar and park views.

The extension was designed as a contemporary interpretation of a gable roof with a sloping roofline that follows the angle of the location. ‘This not solely creates a dynamic and fascinating type but additionally maximises the out there area throughout the web site,’ says Lachlan.

An operable noticed gum rain display screen conceals the brand new ensuite from the adjoining public parkland as required, whereas offering shading to the constructing envelope. A blind can be totally opened to absorb views of the backyard, or closed to protect from the recent western solar.

‘I can’t think about many different locations I’d somewhat be than sitting within the tub trying on the sky and watching the birds fly in regards to the backyard,’ says Lachlan.

The untouched bed room wing within the authentic home permits the purchasers’ prolonged household to go to on events, and might be closed off utterly when not in use.

Whereas a lot of the present home was retained, methods have been used all through the mission to drastically scale back the quantity of waste. An current ensuite was repurposed into a brand new visitor powder room (eradicating the necessity to reduce up concrete in an effort to relocate an current bathroom), and a window turned the opening of the brand new bed room addition.

Final however not least, the unique street-facing facade was repaired, with solely a glimpse of the brand new addition supplied from the road behind mature timber.