The rear extension of this heritage listed Californian Bungalow comprises a series of thick recycled brick walls, with windows, doors and walls fitting in-between and around them, connecting to the brickwork as delicately as possible. The bricks were reclaimed from the demolition of the rear lean to. Two of the largest of these walls sit at the end of the original hallway, creating a powerful impression upon entry to the rear spaces. Openings on each side of these walls lead to the rumpus and living spaces and between them the passage leads to the rear garden via a 3.3m high glazed pivot door. The hallway is mirrored above with timber lined eaves, providing ideal shading to the north facing sliding doors.
The roof design extends the elemental logic of the extension. Large, floating roof forms are separated from adjoining walls by long, highlight windows. A lower ceiling in the kitchen and rumpus allows the roof above to respectfully slide under the existing exposed rafters at the connection point to the existing building. A lower ceiling was also desired to provide more a intimate spatial quality, when compared with the 3.3m timber lined ceilings in the dining and living.
The mass of brick walls is balanced by the textural feel to the interior spaces. Black butt timber boards line the ceilings and the rough painted recycled bricks and the concrete floor ensure the space doesn’t feel stark or cold. Floating pendant lights over the dining table, dark timber veneer on the island bench and muted green cabinetry along the back wall further soften the atmosphere of the space.
