Brick Residence

The brief for this project was to design an extension to this important modernist house that respected and preserved the original house designed by Ernest Fooks.

The main challenge of this project was how to design an extension to such a fantastic original house by the renowned modernist Architect Ernest Fooks. The clients brief was essentially not to ruin the original house - no pressure!

Conceptually the project proposes a series of spaces organised within masonry walls constructed of recycled bricks from the original garage that was demolished. These walls are then capped with a large thin singular concrete roof that is exposed internally and slides under the existing houses eave line, clearly delineating old and new. Internally the new recycled blonde bricks are exposed in the mid-section of the extension and then painted towards the rear where an angled wall and subtle curve is introduced in contrast to the original rectilinear planning; yet referencing a peculiar single angled wall at the rear of the original house.

A new larger kitchen, the heart of this family home, is re orientated to address the dining room and terrace directly, as well as importantly sit within the linking space between old and new. The new exposed concrete ceiling is first experienced from above the end of the kitchen, and the existing ceiling is defined with painted lining boards connecting through to the dining room.

Joinery in the study and WIR divides the spaces between the primary brick walls and is conceived as crafted furniture elements.

The proposed extension is located along the south of the site providing expansive north facing windows and doors supplying natural light to all rooms as well as important connections to the rear yard. The concrete roof is designed to provide generous eaves that control the sun seasonally. Insulation has been placed on top of the concrete roof and this, as well as its natural thermal mass, ensure the new extension is kept warm in winter and cool in summer. Existing bricks from the garage and the original terrace handrail have been re purposed and reworked within the new proposal. The laundry and bathroom were carefully renovated avoiding a full fit out to make use of the existing fabric which simply needed some slight updating. The project maintains the integrity of the original house and has been enhanced with a respectful addition that has transforms this into a sustainable family home.

Joinery
Constructed of Blackbutt timber veneer and edged with solid blackbutt timber around each panel providing a more refined crafted furniture like quality to the joinery.

Flooring
New Vic Ash timber strip flooring to match existing sealed with Bona Traffic Satin water based polyurethane finish.

Insulation
Existing ceilings: R5.0 Bradford Gold High Performance Ceiling Batts to existing ceilings.
R3.5 Kingspan Kooltherm K10 Plus Soffit Board installed over new concrete roof.
10mm reflective polystyrene installed to new timber floor being replaced to dining, kitchen and pantry.
R1.9 Kingspan Kooltherm K3 Floorboard installed below concrete slab on ground to new extension
R1.9 Kingspan Kooltherm K8 Cavity Board installed to new brick cavity walls
R1.9 Kingspan K12 Framing Board installed to new brick veneer walls

Glazing
The house features timber framed, double glazed doors and windows by Noremac. Viridian Comfort Plus Clear glass are used on windows and glazed doors.

Heating and Cooling
Passive solar design features including northern orientation, external shading and effective cross ventilation reduce the need for heating and cooling devices. In the existing house, the underfloor ducted heating and cooling is extended with new floor grilles below the island bench. Continuous linear slot grille above the study and Master Bedroom robe joinery provide reverse cycle heating and cooling in the new extension.

Hot Water System
Existing Bosch Highflow 26e gas HWS used to include new areas.

Water Tanks
4000 litre Bluescope Slimline Steel outdoor rain water tank.

Lighting
The house uses low energy and LED recessed down lights from Volt Lighting and surface mounted lights from ECC Lighting. The Y Chandelier 04 in natural brass was selected for the dining area pendant fitting and Ora Pendant from Ross Gardam over the island bench. Belleview wall light from Great Dane was installed over the study desk. Bedside pendant is the Marquise Medium from Oxley Butterworth.

Our clients are a young family who 's grandfather commissioned Ernest Fooks to design the original house in 1951.