Andrew Maynard Architects' clients had a simple request: more space for their growing and ageing family. They had outgrown their holiday home in Anglesea, on Victoria's southern coastline.
Multi-Generational Home
With the need of the client always in mind, Andrew Maynard Architects set out to create a multi-generational vacation home whose "versatility… allows it to be inhabited simultaneously by all members of the extended family… The design is rigorously addressed at different scales, allowing there to be a certain level of connection and interaction throughout while also providing smaller zones where solace can be found."
Timber Boxes
The design response to the home was a series of "finely-crafted multi-functional timber boxes" nestled around the existing house. The design allows the users to take advantage of the surroundings by having the form open to the outdoors. This set up allows extensive physical and visual interaction between the two environments.
Natural During the Day, Vibrant at Night
"Throughout the day, the timber allows the additions to have an appearance that is harmonious with its surroundings, whilst at night the internal lights amplify the bold colour scheme, giving the structure an almost synthetic and rendered image," — Andrew Maynard Architects
Trafficable Roof
A new trafficable roof extends the top floor living spaces out into the treetops in an attempt to connect the house with the site. Below the roof, the wood continues downward to create a deck for the first level. Parts of the structure are carved out creating "a multi-dimensioned element" that provides shelter as well as habitable areas for the children to play.
Colourful Northern Box
A "Northern box addition" allows winter sun to penetrate deep within the home's interior, warming the concrete slab to provide thermal mass. Bright colour finishes at the ground level enliven the interior to create a "playful, leisurely and carefree characteristic that such a house should embody."
Multifunctional Elements
Elements strive to perform a variety of functions as a bed serves as a recreational seat, a play platform for children, an access point out to the trampoline, a storage space & (when the large black curtain is extended dividing the area) a private bed. "This multiplicity in function, allows the spaces to have increased versatility, and allows the plan to respond to many different demands simultaneously reducing the overall footprint of the design."
Anglesea Beach House
Often the default reaction to a lack of space is to add several bedrooms and a bathroom or a new living area. The architects of this project instead added multi-functional spill out spaces. By utilising multifunctional spaces and clever planning Andrew Maynard Architects were able to significantly improve the sense of space for this family, without a lot of extra floorspace and cost.
If you love multifunctional spaces, take a look at this space efficient apartment. If you want to see more innovative beach house additions, take a look at this [plywood](/tag/plywood/) 'treehouse', or this tiny model for compact living.