This colonial-style house was feeling a little dated and the owners wanted to update it and improve the flow of their home. Without altering too much, PLY Architecture were able to completely transform the look and feel of the home, taking it from daggy and dated to, well, take a look for yourselves...
Original Colonial-style home (top) and updated home for modern living (below)
Original Colonial-style home (top) and updated home for modern living (below)
Located on a hill overlooking vineyards and the ocean to the north-west, it was a crime that the original home wasn't embracing the sun and views. Small windows and a large verandah blocked a lot of light and made the home feel introspective. By cutting some much larger openings, the whole aspect of the home shifted to the outdoors.
Integrated shading and seating areas in the openings create an outdoor space which feels like an outdoor room, much like what the verandah should have felt like, but was never used in this way because it was narrow and not well-connected to the house.
The original character of the home has been left largely intact, with the internal brickwork and timber ceilings remaining. Instead of removing these elements, new modern elements redirect the focus to the outdoors and the views, adding another layer of history rather than rewriting the past.
For the clients, sustainability was a major focus, so retaining so much of the original home meant reducing waste and minimising the need for new materials. The redesign is also geared for passive solar design. The new openings draw winter sun deep into the home, warming an exposed concrete slab. High-performance glazing means this warmth isn't lost and helps to keep the home cooler in summer, too. Along with cross-flow and stack ventilation techniques, the home is sure to be comfortable year-round. Rainwater harvesting and energy-efficient appliances further improve the home's eco-friendly ways.
Projects like this show us how it's possible to transform old, out-dated and dysfunctional houses into modern, sustainability-minded homes which take advantage of their site and location. Where the original house was simply placed on the block without consideration for the views or sun, this new layer stips the home back and embraces the sun and breezes for passive heating and cooling. Plus, the owners can now enjoy an indoor-outdoor lifestyle soaking up that stunning view.
