Bungalows make a great family home, but a lot of the traditional designs lack connection to natural light and exterior environments that most modern Australian families desire. With a limited budget and big goals, Splinter Society Architecture transformed Bungalow 8 House into a comfortable family home that enjoys the simple pleasures of domestic architecture.

“Addressing the lack of connection to the garden and the missing northerly aspect, making the home more sustainable and creating larger family/entertaining spaces were the key aspects of the brief,” says director of Splinter Society Architecture, Chris Stanley. “Beyond that, there were layers of influence our clients desired that related to their personal tastes, including an interest in Japanese design.”

The existing weatherboard bungalow boasted a basic configuration with little light and a “lean to” at the rear, which blocked a connection between the living spaces and large backyard. Considering the homeowners’ personal interest in Japanese design, reorientating the home from a west-facing dwelling to the north was a desired feature. However, twisting a home with a limited budget is certainly a challenge, one that Splinter Society Architecture cleverly managed through a triangular addition that inevitably pulled together a collection of the homeowners’ ideas into a simple design proposition.

“Rather than creating a traditional ‘box on the back’ renovation, we devised a triangular roof form that serves to shift the orientation of the rear from west to north. Furthermore, it creates a large eave to the west, allowing a covered outdoor space and significant protection from the west sun,” says Chris.

Bungalow 8 House is an adaptive reuse of the original structure that retains as much of the existing layout while creating a modern, free-flowing family home. The triangular form not only reorientates the abode’s primary spaces, but also contributes to the dwelling’s passive heating and cooling functions. Guided by the homeowners’ love of Japanese design, the material palette is made up of various natural materials and raw textures. Concrete masonry, natural stone, radially sawn ash wood and burnished finishes come together to provide warmth, lightness and connection to the exterior landscape.

“I would say this project is special because of its aspiration to not be grand,” says Chris. “It is special because it takes a modest home and budget and creates a highly sustainable family house that functions well and is a very happy place to inhabit,” says Chris.

Bungalow 8 is characterised by quality spaces that are well connected to natural light, to its exterior garden and well zoned for family interaction, while responding to a broader sense of responsibility to the environment.

We love

The way the triangular addition, stone flooring and timber cladding continue from indoor and outdoor spaces to create seamless flow between environments

Editor’s favourite

The suspended timber box shelving system that effectively divides spaces, hides light fittings and allows for decoration and storage in a beautiful manner

“Rather than creating a traditional ‘box on the back’ renovation, we devised a triangular roof form that serves to shift the orientation of the rear from west to north” – Chris Stanley

“I would say this project is special because of its aspiration to not be grand. It is special because it takes a modest home and budget and creates a highly sustainable family home that functions well and is a very happy place in inhabit” – Chris Stanley

Words by Karsha Green Photography by Mitch Lyons

The post Explore The Bungalow 8 Home appeared first on Completehome.

Yet to achieve this look, a great deal of thoughtful planning and preparation was exerted, not to mention the inclusion of extensive cutting-edge mechanics. Cathedral-like elevation is created using overhead electronic cabinetry, extracting all potential storage possibilities. V-groove routing on panels creates a subtle lineal theme enhanced by handle-free hardware, behind which lies a host of creative storage solutions and pull-out systems. The all-white palette is given a sophisticated tweak with feature stonework on the splashback, benchtop and architecturally inspired island. And all clutter is sequestered in the butler’s pantry, which provides an easily accessible yet hidden area to conceal small appliances and store foodstuffs.”

Designer: Sophie Doumbiotis for Alby Turner & Son

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Alby Turner & Son

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Ebony & Luke: Contemporary shaker

Light and bright, Ebony and Luke’s Good Guys kitchen is a contemporary classic, beautifully blending the old with the new.

Removing a wall allowed them to open their kitchen space, achieving a great sense of flow to the connecting dining, living and laundry areas. They paired classic white Shaker profile doors with contrasting shadowline detail. The new-style black timber and copper handles add a sense of cohesion and sophistication. The Silestone benchtops in Ariel are cleverly angled to complement the shape of the room, completing this calm and tranquil space.
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Deep glass-sided drawers plus vertical internal drawers either side of the oven offer fantastic storage space. The additional sink, hidden behind bifold doors, makes for a fantastic prep area for entertaining. Add in the array of Electrolux appliances — from steam oven to induction cooktop — and you’ve got this stunning, timeless take on a Shaker kitchen design.

The post Inside the kitchens of The Block 2015: Ebony & Luke appeared first on Completehome.