This project is an alteration and addition to a hundred year old workers cottage on a compact 220 m2 site in Hamilton. The project brief was to convert the two-bedroom cottage into a comfortable three-bedroom family home while retaining the street façade and enabling the owners to live in the house during construction.
The area is typified by small lots with houses built close together, restricting natural light and airflow. The site also has a north-south orientation, which limits daylight access further to the back of the house.
The introduction of a central courtyard enables daylight and fresh air to be drawn into the heart of the house and provides an external outlook from the bedroom. A new living room, bathroom, laundry and drying room occupy the ground floor of the extension, while a new bedroom with walk-in robe and ensuite is located above.
The design provides greater living space within the same building footprint by using custom joinery to delineate and define the internal spaces. The detached garage creates a discreet utility area in the backyard for the clothesline, water heater and bins, while a large industrial sliding door opens it up to extend the outdoor entertaining area.
Guided by a modest construction budget, the design is small in size and appearance but big on functionality and value. This project transformed a little cottage into an inspiring family home and demonstrates that a lot can be achieved in a small space. It is the winner of the 2015 Australian Institute of Architects Newcastle Architecture Awards for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions).
