architecture - interiors - sustainability
Balmain terrace alterations and additions
project
This alterations and additions project was the result of the inclusive approach of Danny Broe architect. Although the design was carried out by Danny Broe architects the overall result is a collaboration between the architect, owner, interior designer, engineer, builder and builder’s subcontractors. Any successful project is the result of the experience, skill and enthusiasm of all team members working together. The existing terrace house in East Balmain was typical of many un-renovated terraces. The front rooms are beautiful but dark rooms that are under used and the rooms at the rear are a series of additions made over time which cut off the house from the garden.
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The brief was to rearrange the house functionally to suit a contemporary lifestyle. The aim was to open the house up to the garden and to create an open plan kitchen where people can gather socially while cooking and eating.
description
The resulting house is a two storey three bedroom terrace with an upstairs
dressing room /study. Downstairs from front to back: the TV room, sitting
room, second bathroom/laundry, central light well, kitchen/living, rear
courtyard, garden and shed.
The planning strategy was to demolish the rear ground level rooms of
the house and reposition the bathroom in the centre of the house in
order to let the kitchen/living area open up to the courtyard. The kitchen
and courtyard are joined seamlessly as the polished concrete floor links
the two areas at the same level without a step or barrier.
3d plan of
ground floor
The court yard is fully 'designed' space and is treated as an outdoor room with custom made bench seats and a gas barbeque built into a polished concrete bench. Under the bench is space for an outside bar fridge and storage for the bench pillows.
The kitchen was fully designed and detailed by the architect and built by a specialist joinery workshop. An appliance cupboard is included at bench top level to allow the owners to easily conceal bulky items that are used often. Large drawers maximise storage space and a long elegant island bench doubles as a kitchen table. A polished concrete floor with underfloor heating runs through the kitchen and bathroom.
The
bathroom is intricately designed to house the three functions of a shower,
toilet and laundry in a small space. The water feature/light well is
located in the middle of the house to allow north sunlight to flood
into the once dark front rooms.
The two front rooms retain their historical integrity in contrast to the modern kitchen area. A wall was carefully removed and a door bricked up to create two rooms separated by a fireplace 'column'. The original fireplaces were retro fitted with efficient gas heaters which look like the original coal fires. The TV room at the front of the house is a cosy retreat incorporating state of the art audio/video technology.
Every aspect of the house was carefully designed and thought through including: overall site planning, functional planning, kitchen, bathroom, courtyard, furniture and colours.