Newtown modern minimalism

With a deft hand Christopher Polly Architects have magically transformed this small semi-detached home from two bedrooms and one living space into a custom designed, expansive and private three bedroom home with two living spaces. By improving access to light and ventilation and connecting the interiors more closely to the enclosed private garden beyond the owners have gained not only a modern light-filled home but also a much-coveted separation of adult and children functions and a study with scope to morph into a bedroom should the need arise. A long ‘working wall’ accommodates not only a large kitchen but also substantial storage, a second toilet and a laundry!
Height and openness has been created for the extended area encompassing dining, kitchen and the second living space allows ventilation, light and views to sky & trees from eastern and southern orientations, while pocket concealed sliding doors extend the living spaces onto a roofed terrace that connects to the private garden.

Sustainable features: retention of a sizeable portion of the existing dwelling including the existing bathroom; low-e glazing to reduce heat loads and minimise heat loss; high level louvres to facilitate passive cross ventilation and cooling, allowing hot air to be drawn up and out of living areas; heavily insulated walls, ceilings and roofs further optimise thermal performance without air-conditioning; concrete slab floor for thermal mass; recycled blackbutt flooring; solar energy for gas-boosted hot water, water-saving fixtures, appliances and fittings and energy efficient light fittings.

Construction materials: roofing in Bluescope Steel Klip-lok, exterior walls: black & white painted treated pine shiplap boards, fibre-cement and Colorbond folded steel sheet cappings; internal Walls: white painted treated pine shiplap boards & plasterboard; windows: Western red cedar framed sliding glass doors & pivot stay windows, Breezway Altair louvres, anodised aluminium concealed frames for fixed glazing; flooring: polished concrete slab & internal stair with black oxide, recycled blackbutt strip floor with custom charcoal grey stain; kitchen, living & dining Joinery: Laminex laminate finishes in white and black and mirror splashback to kitchen.

Products specified: Oluce, Kartell & Beacon suspended light fittings; Slimlite concealed strip lights; Rovasi recessed downlights; Recycled blackbutt treads over custom steel stringers (exterior)

[Photography by Brett Boardman]