Stunning Self-Contained Addition
The Dragonfly is a self-contained addition which has landed elegantly next to an existing holiday home. It's designed for extra accommodation when the existing house swells with guests and capitalizes on stunning ocean views.
The addition takes advantage of expansive views toward the Pacific Ocean and frames snapshots of a rugged hillside behind while simultaneously wrapping around the existing house with minimal impact. It offers occupants a unique experience within a constrained and sloping site.
The additional space adds flexibility to the existing accommodations and can be used as a retreat for the owners, their teenage children, guests or as an artists studio. Within the constrained 48m2 footprint, the design manages to incorporate a sauna, outdoor shower, and garden patio on top of the bedroom and lounge space.
Material Palette
The Dragonfly's material palette includes copper, glass, hoop pine, and Australian cypress. These materials are used to blend with the surrounding environment. A strong connection between the indoors and outdoors helps to strengthen this materials' connection to the surrounds.
Capturing the Views
The unusual geometry of the addition is designed to capitalize on several desirable but distinct views. One large window opens up to stunning views of the Pacific Ocean, while the other highlights the hillside the home is cut into.
The floor plan also maximizes north light, while sheltering outdoor spaces from cold southerly winds.
Embracing the Environment
The Dragonfly is designed to create a connection between the occupant and the outdoor environment, emphasizing the unique beauty of the site -- and with a site with views like this, you'd want to emphasize that! Placement of windows, doors, and ventilation panels are placed to allow the occupant to manage their own thermal comfort, rather than relying on air-conditioning set to a fixed degree.
It was also important to minimize disturbance to family and visitors in the existing house to which it is attached. Occupants of other areas of the house do not take notice nor are they impacted by the extension’s presence.
Fitting In
"The project is tucked to the rear of the existing house and is modestly seen from the approach. The Dragonfly is anchored to the hillside along one edge, and then cantilevered out using suspended concrete slab construction to eliminate any need to load upon the existing structure."
Integrated Design
"The project delivers the clients’ request for a bedroom, ensuite, sun-deck, sauna, storage, and a desk for writing through a very compact layout of integrated furnishings. The constraints of the project were turned into opportunities to enhance one’s sense of discovery in the everyday. A storage wall which holds books, clothes, and other artefacts also creates separation for the ensuite . The ensuite receives ample daylight via a ribbon of clear glass that occupies the space between the continuous plywood ceiling and the top of the 2.1m high storage wall. "
A Model for Compact Living
While this is certainly an example of a flexible and considerate addition, perhaps more interestingly, The Dragonfly -- when considered as a stand-alone home design -- is a model for compact living that could be translated into any area. Above all, the house proves that small doesn't have to mean cramped and compact doesn't have to mean boring.