The owners of this Pascoe Vale property wanted to bring light and spaciousness to their 1960s home. Paul Porjazoski of Bent Architecture explains that the idea of an annex was introduced, as a means to retain the original charm of the building, while encouraging new connections to the garden. He highlights ‘in contrast to the heaviness and introspective nature of the original house, this new, site-responsive and light-filled annex is open and outward-looking’ The result is a bright and generous addition to the family home, that feels more like a sheltered place in the garden that a traditional living space.
The renovations began by peeling away previous ad-hoc additions at the rear, ‘leaving only the generously proportioned rooms of the existing home’ Paul explains. The new build cleaves gently into the space, tucking under the existing eaves and expanding out into the garden. Meanwhile, a decked outdoor dining area is protected by a retractable shading device.
Paul highlights how continuity is established between past and present, as a continuous roofline folds overhead. The central courtyard introduces light into the master bedroom, as well as creating ‘the illusion of one continuous space, blurring the boundary between inside and outside.’ This sense of flow is enhanced by the introduction of a brick plinth in the living room, that merges into an outdoor raised planter bed. Brick paving crosses the threshold between inside and out, intentionally blurring boundaries.
This ‘blurring’ between inside and out is partly inspired by the idea of a caravan annex, where ‘every day should feel like a breath of fresh air, surrounded by nature.’ Thankfully, unlike a caravan, this home offers year-round comfort, passively designed for heat retention in the concrete slab, and cross ventilation throughout, to reduce the need for heating and cooling. Win win!
