CARPENTER

A big tree, an old house, a new family with a desire for human interaction and connectedness.  A curved feature clad in timber offset with a titanium box, voids and glass walls that open onto refined outdoor spaces.  Smiling clients … and the project is a success.

Type:  Alterations + Additions

Location:  Brighton

Client:  Andrew + Kate

Build:  Sier Constructions

Photography:  Rachel Lewis

Located on a busy road in Brighton, the focus of this house for a young family was always going to be away from the street.  Insular, introspective and private spaces of the existing home transition into the open light filled spaces of the additions promoting human interaction and family togetherness.

A curved feature clad in timber frames a view into a small backyard with a very large tree and is offset with a simple titanium box housing 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms and a living area, spaces that will cater for expanding family life.

Voids connect the first floor with the active zones of the ground floor and glass operable walls open onto refined outdoor spaces.

Dig Design’s work challenges the form of a traditional weatherboard bungalow in Brighton through the use of simple forms and beautiful materials featuring spotted gum and titanium zinc.

A large tree is located to the rear of the block and in many ways the scale of the additions were determined by the tree that was in, then out when it looked lost, and back in again after it was saved by an arborist.

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AWARDED

2014 National Association of Building Designers

Winner

Alterations|Additions Residential Design

$800K+ Construction Cost

2014 Building Designers Association of Victoria

Winner

Residential Alterations + Additions

$500K+ Construction Cost

2015 Houzz

Best in House, Design

2016 Houzz

Best in Houzz, Design

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PATERSON

Over one hundred years old, this small terrace home in Princes Hill required reworking to accommodate a young expanding family.  Dig Design was engaged to create a home that was light, bright and offered space they didn’t think was possible.

Type:  Alterations + Additions

Location:  Princes Hill

Client:

Build:  Sier Constructions

Photography:  Rachel Lewis

Located in Princes Hill, the client had lived in this small inner suburban terrace house for a number of years.  It had a number of poor quality renovations prior to them, was in poor condition, drafty and lacking in access to natural light.

With a young expanding family they were after more space, a family friendly home that embraced the period features of the home but was, in contrast, distinctly modern to the rear, with good access to natural light .  A heritage overlay meant that a solution was required that met the client’s desires for a modern home within council’s heritage guidelines.

A small lot with a site area of a mere 160 square metres, the existing home was one of four adjoining single storey terrace houses.  It was in poor condition with period features missing, cracking, termites and water damage.  It was dark with limited access to natural light, but the rear yard was north facing.

Dig Design’s key design objectives were to retain the heritage facade as part of the terrace row, restore the front period rooms of the home and create a contemporary open extension to the rear and first floor.

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A neutral and light colour scheme was used throughout the interior tie the old and new spaces.  What was a previously dark home opens up to a sun filled zone that reflects the light on its white surfaces.  The white interior is in contrast with the warm exterior colours that include red bricks, spotted gum timber and copper cladding.

This home demonstrates that a design need not be large or fussy to be effective. A simple palette internally allows the feature external elements of spotted gum and copper cladding stand proud within its very urban and uniquely Melbourne laneway location.

Check out some of our other projects …