Escher House
Architecture Residential Australia
36 Images
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1. Escher House Concept Peter Bennetts 3333 px 5000 px 3 MB A4 print |
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2. Escher House Peter Bennetts 5000 px 3333 px 3 MB A4 print |
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13. Escher House 3333 px 5000 px 5 MB A4 print |
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14. Escher House 5000 px 3333 px 5 MB A4 print |
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15. Escher House Existing heritage facade 5000 px 3333 px 7 MB A4 print |
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16. Escher House Stepped form with north facing clerestory window Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 23 MB A3 print |
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17. Escher House Distant church spire in reflection Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 15 MB A3 print |
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18. Escher House New kitchen & void over Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 12 MB A3 print |
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19. Escher House Platform detail Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 12 MB A3 print |
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20. Escher House servery cupboard stop motion Tatjana Plitt 1000 px 1500 px 956 KB Print - Low res only |
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21. Escher House Mezzanine study Tatjana Plitt 5654 px 6699 px 14 MB A3 print |
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22. Escher House Stepped down Laundry Tatjana Plitt 6720 px 4480 px 11 MB A3 print |
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23. Escher House existing dining Original dining room retained Tatjana Plitt 6720 px 4480 px 12 MB A3 print |
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24. Escher House Bathroom 6221 px 6720 px 14 MB A3 print |
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25. Esher House Bathroom detail Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 11 MB A3 print |
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26. Escher House landscape Landscape by Sam Cox landscape 1. Reuse of old bluestone sill as seat. Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 24 MB A3 print |
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27. Escher House landscape Landscape by Sam Cox landscape 2. Reuse of old bluestone sill as seat. Tatjana Plitt 4480 px 6720 px 34 MB A3 print |
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28. Escher House Site Plan 4962 px 3508 px 1 MB A4 print |
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29. Escher House Ground Floor Plan 4962 px 3508 px 1 MB A4 print |
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30. Escher House First Floor Plan 4962 px 3508 px 920 KB A4 print |
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31. Escher House East Elevation 4962 px 3508 px 650 KB A4 print |
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32. Escher House West Elevation 4962 px 3508 px 701 KB A4 print |
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33. Escher House North Elevation 4962 px 3508 px 750 KB A4 print |
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34. Escher House South Elevation 4962 px 3508 px 825 KB A4 print |
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35. Escher House Section A-A 4962 px 3508 px 716 KB A4 print |
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36. Escher House Section B-B 4962 px 3508 px 653 KB A4 print |
Description
https://www.inbetweenarchitecture.com.au/escher-house
Escher House is a renovation and addition to a 1930s interwar cottage, in Canterbury’s heritage Hassett Estate.
The design retains two existing bedrooms and the formal living and dining at the front of the home. The extension accommodates a master bedroom suite, kitchen / meals, bathroom, laundry and study / home office.
The design responds to the sloping site and restricted building envelope, stipulated by the local heritage planning control. By arranging the brief over four incremental levels, the home harnesses the potential of the site and simultaneously create elements of ambiguity and delight. The intriguing play of levels and connection is reminiscent of the artwork of M.C. Escher, hence the name 'Escher House'.
By lowering the floor level of the kitchen at the rear of the home, connection with the backyard is strengthened. The existing floor level flows through and forms both walkway and seating, around the meals table. A whimsical stair leads up to third level, accommodating a mezzanine study which overlooks the kitchen / meals area below. The forth and lowest level is tucked under the mezzanine and houses the laundry and a butler’s kitchen. The split levels allow abundant storage and surprise connections, such as a pass-through servery between the main kitchen and butler’s kitchen behind.
The extension is painted brick, sympathetic to the existing brick exterior, but the form is an intentional contemporary juxtaposition to the English cottage language of the original home. While the two parts are strikingly different, they sit harmoniously together and as a result the home sits comfortably in its context and addresses its site and surrounds in a way it never did before.
Questions and Answers
What was the brief?
The house was a 1930's English cottage style solid brick dwelling in Canterbury. Typical to houses of this era, spaces were compartmentalised and dark. Kitchen and meals room was tight, laundry had only external access. The living space had no connection to the backyard.
The brief called for retention of the front bedrooms, formal living and dining room. The rear portion of the house was to be demolished and replaced with a new kitchen, meals area, laundry, bathroom, a study and a new master bedroom suite. The clients were keen for a better connection, both visually and physically, between the house and backyard.
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
A family of 3, whom have been living abroad for a number of years. From the experience living in high density housing in Asia, their requirement of space was about 'just enough', which was rather refreshing for us.
What were the key challenges?
The site slopped towards the rear and one side. The house level was quite elevated from the backyard.
Local heritage planning control stipulated a tight building envelope for any new development.
The program exceeded the available floor area and some conflicting priorities. eg. house to open up to the backyard with a kitchen that required to accommodate heavy cooking.
What were the solutions?
The design responded to the sloping site and a tight building envelope stipulated by the local heritage planning control. We started by examining the brief and looked for opportunity to combine functions in order to save space.
By splitting the house into four incremental levels, we were able to find extra space that are shared between functions. The design addressed the brief as well as created elements of ambiguity and delight, reminiscent of the artwork of M.C. Escher, hence the name 'Escher House'.
By setting down the new kitchen, a connection to the backyard was enhanced by bringing the eye level closer to the backyard. A platform at the existing house level warped around the kitchen, forming the seating around the meals table as well as the corridor to access bedrooms. This casual setting invites the family to sit down and enjoy the view of the backyard. At the end of the platform, a set of stairs lead up to a mezzanine study tuck behind the kitchen with the laundry under.
To maintain the openness of the kitchen and the connection to the backyard, a secondary 'wet kitchen' was created in the laundry. This helped separating the mess and smell of heavy cooking behind doors.
The split level also allowed plenty of storage opportunity and interesting connections, such as a servery cupboard linking kitchen and the laundry wet kitchen.
What are the sustainability features?
Windows and doors were strategically positioned to optimise natural ventilation and solar access.
Oversized clerestorey window with adjustable awning over the void lifted the spatial experience as well as providing natural light and ventilation (thermal chimney).
Details
| Project size | 180 m2 |
| Site size | 560 m2 |
| Completion date | 2019 |
| Building levels | 2 |
Project team
| Steph Richardson | Architect | |
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John Liu | Architect |
| Sam Cox | ||
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Inbetween Architecture | architecture & interior design |