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residential design | landscape hybridisation | process multidisciplinary opportunities

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Been busy on the new projects front – finishing off the specification and documentation of this Senior’s Garden in Melbourne’s northern suburbs, as well as these site meetings:

A bit of fun collaborating on the Charlie’s Cookies shop/cafe fitout with graphic design extraordinaire, Lauren Abbott. In its very early stages, we will encapsulate the homely rustic playful nature of Charlie’s through the interior of their Bentleigh store.

 

 

 

 

 

A new multi-generational dwelling on the peninsula – two families aim to live on the same block of land. An interesting proposal that has much merit that could prototype a new way of living to curb housing affordability and encourage inter-generational cohabitation. All to be designed around an existing pool and two beautiful oak trees.

If you’re considering having someone design your place – feel free to drop me a line or an email for an initial consultation. Details here under ‘services’ – would love to hear from you!

When it comes to residential design for the masses, architectural commissions in Australia are something along the lines of 3-4% of the pie. That means that the vast majority of new housing built today is NOT authored by architects. This is of concern to me, as I believe that good design is necessary to responsibly densify this city, and this can only be achieved by a sensitive contextual response that an architect can provide. A standardised volume builder home cannot deliver the precise requirements that a site demands. So where are the barriers? In my opinion:

  • Architectural commissions are viewed as expensive and unaffordable, and don’t offer a return on investment
  • Architects are viewed as elitist and unapproachable
  • Most people cannot understand the design/planning/documentation/building process, and don’t know who to ask/where to start
  • Most people view residential design as a product, not a service, and commoditise housing to an end product

Unfortunately, a lot of these assumptions are somewhat true to a degree, however it needn’t be this way. I feel a shift in mindset needs to take place to increase the proportion of well designed housing:

  • Value needs to be placed upon the process of design
  • Perception of status needs to be shifted from quantity of space to quality of build
  • Consumerist attitudes must change to encourage living with less items and less space
  • Global thinking in relation to environmental and social impact must be at the forefront of a client’s motivation
  • Education of the market (real estate agents and developers) to rethink flexible models of living will result in adaptable housing types – e.g. multi-generational families, home/office environments
  • Rethinking the client brief with the client – for example, perhaps a client thinks they need 3 bedrooms, but in reality only requires transitional sleeping areas to accommodate 4 people.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In short, design costs money – this includes the process of design as well as the construction of a good product. We need to spend MORE on the quality of the build, and LESS on the amount of floor area, and rethink how spaces can be evolve over time. In this way, longer term and bigger picture thinking demonstrates that housing will cost less, reduce environmental impact, be more specific to a client’s requirements and be sympathetic to the site. There is certainly more than one way to address this issue, one of which is photographed at the top – Habitat 21 in Dandenong features small 6 star housing by local architects to fit onto smaller sized land parcels. Wiki-houses is another option, which utilises open sourcing for the design of house plans allowing the local building economy to prevail, but still treats housing as a commodity. The list goes on.
Another method is something I’m proposing – a starting point to enter the jungle that is architectural design. I’m offering initial consultations for your residential design needs. For $200 per [metropolitan] site visit, I’ll come out and view your site, have a meeting with you to discuss your needs, provide a list of steps and a general timeframe, as well as provide ideas for what can be achieved. On a broader scale, what is actually happening is that you are partaking in some critical thinking of your block of land, factoring impacts beyond the micro needs and opening up the possibility of a customised solution that seeks to achieve the shift in mindset as outlined above. Seemingly overwhelming, but together we can workshop to synthesize the competing interests to reach an outcome far greater than any volume builder home can deliver. It may not involve myself personally providing architectural services – I may act as an agent for another architect that is a better fit for your needs/ethos.

Are you interested in taking the first step? Drop me a line or an email: esther@socialarchitect.com.au.

Quick sketch design for a northern suburbs landscape design around an existing single storey brick residence.

Brief

  • construction costs of $30k
  • located in a valley – need for good drainage and no hard paving
  • productive garden area
  • raised garden bed for the clients who are in the 60s – no bending required
  • low maintenance for the same reason
  • outdoor entertaining area that can be covered during inclement weather
  • separation of entertaining area and service yard/utility
  • construction methods that minimise footings for cost purposes
  • client dislike brick as a material; preference for timber – use of simple repetitive brown vertical and white horizontal forms
  • front fence and undercover parking provisions to the front yard

Currently undergoing design development; to be quoted soon.

  

Images: existing gable vs proposed addition at rear

Residential alterations and additions – demolition of existing living area to replace with new living/kitchen/dining at rear; new laundry, ensuite and bedroom within existing building footprint

Located within a heritage overlay area – sensitive addition in keeping with the neighbourhood character of the estate

Clients keen on preservation of heritage

Sustainability measures

    • zoned living
    • underfloor insulation
    • retrofit insulation in existing wall cavities
    • use of sustainably sourced timber
    • use of recycled brickwork
    • reuse of existing brickwork
    • reduction of floor area where possible – maximising existing footprint

This alterations and additions went through several early iterations to reach the final layout, which maximises the existing building fabric where possible. It uses the language of the contributory heritage 1930s housing estate to generate form – an off-centre gable creates a dramatic rear elevation, extruded as partial roof cover for the entertaining deck.  Internally, the ceilings are raked to reinforce the gable and to spatially separate the living/dining area from the kitchen.

Currently under construction, due for completion in December 2012.

More photos to come.

    

Quick sketchup 3Ds of the living room with low cabinetry, kitchen and bathroom, as requested by the client

  

Images from demolition

If you’re thinking of renovating your house in a sensitive heritage area, or need someone to guide you through the pitfalls of planning, or would like to implement sustainable measures in your dwelling, please don’t hesitate to drop me an email esther@socialarchitect.com.au to discuss.