Reach for the light
This is an excerpt from an article in Sanctuary magazine issue 6.
It’s the classic makeover story: A neglected figure with a warm heart grown cold, just waiting for the kiss of life.
Three years ago, this bungalow in Sydney’s West Ryde was forlorn and “homely”. The rooms were dark, there was limited ventilation and the walls were cracking. But with the aid of some imagination and foresight, owners Kenneth and Terri saw the belle it could become.
Marra + Yeh are strong advocates of restoring and re-using existing buildings and materials, which they say, contributes to sustainability in reducing embodied energy costs.
The major initiative involved removing the extension at the back, which consisted of a bedroom, bathroom, dining room and part of the kitchen. A central area in the middle of the house was designated a flow-through room which could be closed off to function as a study or opened to allow movement of air and light.
The old extension was replaced with a new addition incorporating a kitchen, large family/dining room, bathroom, laundry and deck. Timber bi-fold doors can be opened to maximisze the space even more.
Marra + Yeh cleverly added north-facing clerestory windows at the top of the new extension which, unimpeded by the old home, transform the south-facing rooms into light and airy spaces. When viewed from the street, the windows peek out behind the existing house.
“The north-facing clerestory windows in the new addition allow winter sun to penetrate,” says Carol. “Even on a cold day, the room is comfortable without heating.” Gas heating and reversible fans that distribute heat around the room, combined with the ability to close off this section, can keep the house warm when needed. The windows are also fitted with adjustable glass louvres to allow hot air to escape.
The lightweight roof and walls ensure heat gain is minimised during summer months. Effective levels of insulation in the roof and walls minimise heat loss during winter months.
Carol says there was minimal disruption to the site and the steel structure with (recycled content) meant that the weight of the building was relatively light, which reduced the weight of the foundation. “Minimal weight means reducing the amount of material excavated which means reducing the amount of dirt which needs to be disposed.”
“We tried to build flexibility into the design. As the family situation changes over time, the house can accommodate it.
“We definitely wanted a home that could grow,” says Kenneth. “We love the area and want to stay here. West Ryde is close to the Lane Cove River where we go bushwalking and Bicentennial Park where we go bicycling and have picnics.”
