A home relocation and renovation

The main living spaces, which overlooked a creek and the rainforest, were located at the rear of the house, meaning that guests were constantly walking past the bedrooms and bathroom to get to them. A distinct and clear separation of public and private spaces was required.

"The whole general planning of the house needed to be revisited, with the renovation allowing the house to function more satisfactorily," says architect Gayle Plunkett. 

With this in mind, Gayle designed a new central axis corridor to run between existing and new areas. The corridor allows direct travel paths and more clearly delineated zones. A new, wide entry corridor is the main link and also provides most of the ventilation for the house and allows light into all areas of the home. 

Gayle also created greater storage space, a carport and added a pool, as per the owner's wishes. The floors, made of shot-edge decking, are spaced to maintain ventilation at all times. 

A particularly distinctive feature is the bathroom cabinets, which are made from a single solid timber slab cut from a larger, irregular-shaped slab and which feature bark edging. 

The outer bedroom walls are made of translucent polycarbonate sheeting, which allows fantastic views of the rainforest while keeping the weather and wildlife out. 

With its wide corridors, polycarbonate 'walls' and timber-louvred internal doors, the renovated house clearly articulates the sense of space and peace that the owner was so intent on achieving.

Gayle Plunkett

Gayle Plunkett Architect

What were you trying to achieve with your renovation of this dwelling?

The existing house had its own history and qualities that the owner did not want altered significantly. The client was looking for a design solution that added quality to the home, created space for her two children and privacy for her, and that provided more ventilation and light. 

What were some of the challenges you encountered during the design process, and how did you resolve them?

A clear separation between public and private aspects of the house was necessary. A new central axis corridor between existing and new areas allows very direct paths of travel and more distinct function zones. The wide new entry corridor is the main link - it runs from front to rear.

Which part of the design do you think works particularly well?

The entry corridor, as it has so many functions and is far more purposeful than the usual 'entry'. The bathroom relates directly to the bush and is well ventilated and well lit, even though it is tucked so closely into the trees.

Is there anything you would have done differently in retrospect?

Nothing too much – maybe tried harder to convince the client to use the translucent polycarbonate roof sheeting over the entry corridor, as that sheeting works really well in the bedrooms as walls (for soft diffused light much needed in heavily forested sites).

Why did you choose to take on this project?

There was a delightful owner who gave me a lot of latitude with design ideas and who easily became part of an owner, architect and builder alliance to create something special and very personal.

Vicki

What was your vision for this house?

To gain more living space for the family and make this home as enjoyable a place for the children to grow up in as possible.

Did you have much input into the design?

Yes, Gayle and I had many discussions during the design stage and I had plenty of involvement in the process.

Which rooms, features or aspects of the renovated house do you love, and why?

The advantages gained from an increase in space, specifically the separate bedrooms for the children, which are located some distance from my own bedroom. This increase in space has helped solve the noise problems associated with wooden floors and has created a more peaceful atmosphere.

Is there anything you would change about the process if you were to go through it again?

No, we are very happy with how it has all turned out.