A late 1960s terraced townhouse receives a complete refurbishment and extension in this project. The existing three-story building was completely stripped back, including removal of all the exterior PVC wall panels and windows, leaving only the integral brick walls.
The objective was to create a large, exceptional family home, with abundant natural light. Special consideration was given to the positioning of the family’s Butsudan within the house as well as the connections and flow between the existing and new spaces.
The extension to the side and rear provides an additional 530 square feet of space which wraps around the existing footprint of the building. The introduction of large skylights in the existing roof was an important decision, allowing for a large amount of natural light to enter the core of the existing house where previously there had been little or none. Black engineering brick walls replace the thin white PVC wall panels, which not only improve the overall thermal performance of the building, but introduce a playful surface of texture and pattern which changes in relation to shadow and light.
This project demonstrates how, through a process of removal, alteration and extension, the ubiquitous 1960s townhouse can be transformed into a unique and contemporary family home.