Design Skylight House

Located in a predominately Federation and California Bungalow neighbourhood on the north shore, our brief for this residential alterations and additions project was to rework a badly planned existing dwelling, and previous alterations project, to create a functional house for a family of 6 with improved natural light and greater connection to the garden. After initially exploring a two level option at the client’s request, we encouraged a compact single level proposal with improved planning and a spacious cross section as the best solution within the project’s tight budgetary constraints.

The conceptual framework of the house has been developed around improving the quality and character of natural light in both the existing interior and as a defining element in the new addition. 5 skylights - two existing and three new – have been incorporated to shape a distinct cross section that allows natural light and a connection to the sky from within the deep internalized footprint of the existing house, while shaping a generous and spacious cross section in the new addition.

Working in tandem with the more generous cross section of the new addition, the internal planning has been modified to create a more compact floor plan for the whole house. A carefully inserted central core containing a new bathroom and laundry has reframed the existing internal plan to reduce excessive corridors and create a more direct connection between the existing entry and living rooms, and the new addition. The new internal walls of the addition have been designed as thickened storage walls, moderating the need for more space by providing ample room for storage for the large family.

The skylights and shaped section has also determined the material character of the house. The section creates a play between an abstract, white, sculptured ceiling line and bulkhead datum, which washes light on the more robust natural finishes used below the ceiling and bulkhead datum. The major structural walls are recycled face brick re-used from the existing house’s demolished rear walls and external laundry and bathroom. All joinery below the ceiling line datum is American oak, while the floor is concrete with underfloor heating. Internally this creates a clear palette of abstract lightness above, while all materials within touching distance of the occupants are robust, easily maintained natural materials.

Externally, the roof edge and brick edge of the side walls defining the key vertical and horizontal rear lines of the façade are cut to a common dimension of 50mm, giving a lightness to the bounding frame of the rear façade. Within this outline, timber walls and windows are integrated to be a common material finish that creates the perception of a separate building element within this long rear façade. Sliding screens allowing variability to the façade according to sun control and privacy needs. The roof form, while housing a complex interior section, creates a simple and modest outline for the rear addition that sits comfortably with the federation and California Bungalow neighbouring dwellings.