Bazsux: Anderson Architecture revamps a dim heritage home into a modern sun-soaked abode

2018. december 7., péntek

Anderson Architecture revamps a dim heritage home into a modern sun-soaked abode

view from the backyard of the home faving towards the interior illuminated with light and large glass windows with wood trimming

When Sydney-based design studio Anderson Architecture was asked to improve the livability of an old heritage home in the inner western Sydney suburb of Lewisham, the house suffered from a cold and dark indoor environment. Drawing on their experience on sustainable design, the architects rearranged the home in accordance to passive solar design in a light-filled transformation that earned the project its name, Suntrap. The contemporary renovation has even doubled the thermal efficiency of the living quarters from 3.2 to 6.4 stars.

interior home with wood stairs and ceiling and brick wall adorned with white clock island sink and red stools

With a growing family and a dog, the clients not only sought more living space, but also improved comfort and a stronger connection with the backyard. To bring much-needed natural light and an indoor/ outdoor living experience to the home, the architects tore down an existing old addition and replaced it with a new extension optimized to meet the clients’ requests. Located on a long and skinny lot, the house is mainly organized along a central corridor that connects to three bedrooms, while the open-plan living spaces are located in the rear where they connect seamlessly with the backyard. The new extension also features an expansive master bedroom suite on the upper floor.

living room and dining areas are filled with natural light wood furnishings and white walls

“But our key move was to introduce an internal courtyard,” say the architects. “We opened the heart of the home to the sun, where strategically placed eco-friendly concrete walls and hydronic heated flooring brought much-needed heat gain to cold zones. New awnings let in winter sun and we specified heavily insulated prefabricated wall and roof panels, and double-glazed windows, to help maintain comfortable indoor temperatures.”

Wood stairs near a ceiling to floor windows

To keep costs low and reduce waste, the architects repurposed the spotted gum flooring reclaimed from the old addition into cupboard faces and the timber-lined ceiling above the kitchen. The bricks from the old kitchen were also repurposed into a strategic thermal mass wall in the backyard that doubles as a screen for a 1,400-liter rainwater tank used to irrigate the native landscaping.

+ Anderson Architecture

Via ArchDaily

Images by Nic Bower

Master bedroomw ith gray carpets, white walls, medium sized windows running across the room