Extension

The original building, Designed by C.C. Sainsbury in 1957, is a gem. It is an unconventional example from the War Services program; which assisted veterans acquire homes. The clients sought to supplement what they loved to better accommodate their growing family.

Across the country, many families are struggling with the same difficult question: How can you best support aging family members when you live in a city with minimal housing options? Best Practice Architecture has offered a brilliant solution to issues around multigenerational living and urban density with their latest Seattle project.

Earth is one of the oldest construction materials known to man; it can be fired, as with bricks and tiles, or used in its raw state as with adobe or rammed earth.  Earth is a malleable material; in the Bible it is claimed that God formed mankind in ‘his’ own image from earth and water.  Earth is a soft material that can become strong and weight bearing, while maintaining a breathable skin.

The brief was to transform this brick Victorian home, situated on a main road, into a tranquil family residence capable of accommodating the lifestyle of the occupants for many years to come. The features of the original home were to be retained wherever possible, however the challenge was to introduce an abundance of natural light, and create a more livable environment that performed well thermally year round.

Tetris Extension in Melbourne’s inner north-west is a compact addition completed in early 2018. The clients, a young couple with two small children, had outgrown their neat Californian bungalow and needed more room to move. Crosshatch was engaged to create a sympathetic yet efficient rear extension to meet the family’s needs, while still retaining the much-loved character of the original two-bedroom home. The existing floor plan was also reconfigured to provide a third bedroom, additional bathroom and central lounge.