Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Small windows scattered across the facade of this house extension outside Melbourne by Australian practice Wolveridge Architects limit the amount of direct sunlight entering the building (+ slideshow).

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Wolveridge Architects designed the extension to provide additional bedrooms for the owners’ three young sons, who are now housed above a large garage.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

The architects say that the composition of openings in the facade “is designed to restrict the inflow of undesirable west sun and provides a suitable level of visual engagement with the street.”

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Anodised aluminium window frames contrast with the dark stained western red cedar cladding that covers the new addition and maintains the house’s existing material palette.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Inside the bedrooms, the windows are integrated into a geometric arrangement of cabinetry that creates storage and seating.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

The extension also incorporates a new living area that is separated from the bedrooms by a large shaded terrace with views of the nearby forest.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Yesterday we published a beach house by Wolveridge Architects with louvred shutters concealing its windows and architect Clare Cousins recently extended a family home in Australia by adding a stilted timber-framed guest house. See more houses in Australia »

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Photography is by Ben Hosking.

Here’s a project description from the architects:


Blairgowrie House

This extension to an existing two storey dwelling provides essential additional living areas for a family with three young boys. The original structure made very little connection with the surrounding property and had deficiencies in access to northern light.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

By bringing the façade dramatically forward towards the street it was possible to incorporate the three required bedrooms above a large garage on street level.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

To separate the bedrooms from the new living area a north facing courtyard was introduced which also provides a terrific outlook towards the surrounding Moonah forest.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

The block type form established from bringing the front of the dwelling forward and its western orientation influenced a design decision to create a complex series of openings in the façade, allowing for plenty of natural light to the children’s bedrooms within.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

The composition of openings is designed to restrict the inflow of undesirable west sun and provides a suitable level of visual engagement with the street.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

The cabinetry design integrates with the complex window arrangement on the outside, creating a playful sense within each bedroom.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

The existing palette of dark stained western red cedar cladding and anodised aluminium window frames was carried through in the new work, integrating the original structure within the proposed design, but still providing a sense of separation.

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects

Project name: Blairgowrie House
Date of construction completion: 25/08/12
Project team: Jerry Wolveridge, Sina Petzold, Ricky Booth, David Anthony
Builder and Construction Manager: Tim Prebble
Structural/Civil Engineer: Don Moore & Associates
Building Surveyor: Nepean Building Permits

Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects
Ground floor plan – click for larger image
Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects
Basement plan – click for larger image
Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects
Long section – click for larger image
Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects
West elevation – click for larger image
Blairgowrie House by Wolveridge Architects
South elevation – click for larger image

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Wolveridge Architects
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Torquay House by Wolveridge Architects

This timber and concrete beach house in Victoria by Australian firm Wolveridge Architects conceals all its windows behind louvred shutters and has courtyards tucked into its sides (+ slideshow).

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Torquay House was designed by Wolveridge Architects to protect its inhabitants from the extreme weather conditions of its seaside location, creating indoor and outdoor spaces that are screened from powerful winds.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

“In coastal conditions buildings must be robust and defy the elements, yet create protective spaces, both internal and external, which allow the occupants to feel safe and comfortable,” said the architects.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

The volume of the building is divided into three connected blocks. The first and second have two storeys and feature windowless concrete sides, while the third is a single-storey volume clad entirely with timber.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

The small courtyards are slotted into the recesses between blocks and are overlooked by most of the house’s windows, which are generally directed to face north and south.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

“It is the private spaces created in between that allow natural ventilation and light, intimate outlooks, and privacy for the occupants – a place to call home,” said the team.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

One of the courtyards contains the entrance to the house, while another is dedicated to barbecues.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

A combined living and dining room occupies the single-storey rear block and opens out to a swimming pool beyond.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Three bedrooms are located on the upper floor and each have their own private bathroom.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Other Australian residences completed recently include a periscope-shaped extension and a sand dune-shaped house. See more houses in Australia »

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Photography is by Derek Swalwell.

Read on for a description from Wolveridge Architects:


Torquay House

This project attempts to challenge our traditional notions of how buildings can exist both in a coastal environment and in this case also the context of an emerging built form and character. In coastal conditions, buildings must be robust and defy the elements, yet create protective spaces, both internal and external which for us allow the occupants to feel safe, comfortable, privacy and enjoyment of good times.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Whether the occupants are full-time residents or weekenders, the beach house is a place to look forward to arriving, whether in the heat of the summer or the winter’s cold.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

With excellent views to the north and south and a conscious motivation to avoid the east/west outlooks, this project evolved as a series of interconnected and robustly finished containers. Each prescribed to a rigid set of rules and the relationship and spaces between containers becoming essential to the program and to the life of the building.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

The robust mass of the buildings is intended to be offset by the expression of finely considered detail and proportion. It is the private spaces created in between that allow natural ventilation and light, intimate outlooks, and privacy for the occupants, a place to call home.

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Project Name: Torquay House
Date of construction completion: 19/04/2012
Building Type: Residential – House

Torquay House by Wolveridge

Architect: Wolveridge Architects
Practice Team: Jerry Wolveridge, Sina Petzold, Tjeerd van der Vliet, Courtney Gibbs
Builder and Construction Manager: John Walker Master Builders
Structural/Civil Engineer: Don Moore & Associates
Landscape Consultant: Heather Vincent Landscapes
Cost Consultant: VPL Builders Services
Building Surveyor: Nepean Building Permits

Torquay House by Wolveridge
Ground floor plan – click for larger image
Torquay House by Wolveridge
First floor plan – click for larger image
Torquay House by Wolveridge
Long section – click for larger image
Torquay House by Wolveridge
South elevation – click for larger image
Torquay House by Wolveridge
East elevation – click for larger image

The post Torquay House by
Wolveridge Architects
appeared first on Dezeen.