We don't all have the cash (or the space) for an expansive addition. And let's face it, with environmental concerns and all that extra maintenance and cleaning a larger house brings with it, we should be looking at smaller, craftier solutions for our homes. Well, it doesn't come much smaller or craftier than this tiny 11 square metre addition in St Kilda East by Claire Scorpo Architects...
In spite of its size, this addition tackles the big ideas, connecting to the garden, capturing natural light, and reorienting the house around the kitchen and outdoor space.
The budget for the project was tight, but thanks to the client supplying some items like the IKEA kitchen, the building budget could be focused on structural changes and the construction of the small addition which would bring maximum impact.
Essential to the success of small projects is using elements for more than one purpose. At St Kilda East House, a wall isn't just a wall. Clad in translucent fibreglass, the wall brings light into the kitchen during the day and acts as a lantern for the outdoor area at night. Splashbacks are also windows to let in light and connect the kitchen to the garden - visually expanding the space.
Inside CD grade plywood lines the walls. This is an affordable, yet durable material which naturally has a warm, yellowy tone. The plywood is balanced by Cararra marble benchtops and table which also adds quality to the simple and affordable IKEA kitchen.
Balancing budget with durability and aesthetics, the extension is clad in COLORBOND® steel with a profile to match the fibreglass, tying the facades together. The choice of Basalt® for the colour of the cladding contrasts with red bricks of the original home and is an appropriate choice for Melbourne - a city built on (and out of) Basalt.
The courtyard, kitchen and living space have a sense of dynamism as light and shadow work their magic to bring the spaces alive. Light is diffused through the fibreglass and shadows from the gable-shaped pergola move during the day. It is a light-filled and exciting place to live.
St Kilda East House proves a small addition can make a disproportionate impact on the home. So forget the oversized extension that will keep you cleaning all weekend, and opt-instead for a smaller, smarter space.
