Merewether Alterations

Merewether, Australia

Add To Collection

Other Projects by BOURNE + BLUE ARCHITECTURE

Add To Collection

Harbour House (in assoc with Peter Stutchbury)

Add To Collection

Merewether Alterations

Merewether, Australia

Firm

BOURNE + BLUE ARCHITECTURE

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2016

SIZE

1000 sqft - 3000 sqft

Project Description –Merewether Alterations

This project in the beachside suburb of Merewether, (Newcastle, NSW Australia) was on a long but narrow suburban block, that runs approximately North South. A small old cottage existed on the site, which had been added to poorly in the past, and there was little connection to the sunny rear garden. The building matches a house immediately to the East, providing a welcome contribution to a streetscape that is undergoing renewal. All too often in this suburb, small charming old houses are being lost in favour of huge, poorly designed mansions, that make no contribution to the streetscape. The original house is quite small, and the client needed more space and a more efficient arrangement.

The strategic approach with the design was to renovate and reinforce the parts of the old house that had integrity, and remove the poorly constructed addition. A section was added, with it’s roof form matching the old, except detailed in a modern way (with glazed gables) and a gap to provide curtilage to the old. As the land drops away to the North, and the old house had high ceilings, a split level addition was proposed, with main bedroom, ensuite and study at the upper level and kitchen, living, dining below. The lower roofed section between new and old houses the laundry and bathroom. At the rear of the block a multi purpose pavilion was built, which acts as a roofed outdoor area, carport, bike and surfboard store and outdoor surf shower.

Roof water is collected in tanks for re-use on site. Hoop pine plywood is used extensively both as a joinery material. Lighting throughout is LED low energy. Flooring is clear finished concrete or polished timber. Cladding is Spotted Gum shiplap boards, clear finished and arranged vertically, to link to but contrast with the older part of the house which has horizontal, painted weatherboards.

Completed – 2016
Architect – Bourne Blue Architecture
Photography – Shane Blue
Builder – Leigh Holmes
Engineer - Izzat
Area – existing – 85.6m2, 73m2 additional