PROJECTS

Pavilion House

Highett, 2022

A new living room and study at the rear of the house is designed with lofty ceilings and orientated to catch the north light. Stretched along the south boundary, views from inside look to a new pool and garden. White painted brick gently contrasts with the white weatherboards while the playful roof form adapts to minimise overshadowing.

Project size: 220 m2
(165 m2 existing house
+ 55 m2 new addition)
Site area: 604 m2
Completion Date: 2022

Pavilion House is a double-fronted post-war weatherboard house in the bayside suburb of Highett. While the house had been previously renovated, it was in big need of a second living space to accommodate growing children and parents working from home. The design brief was to provide a spacious, light filled addition at the back of the house that connected to the backyard and proposed pool.

The new rumpus room and study at the rear of the house is designed with lofty ceilings and orientated to catch the north light. Stretched along the south boundary, views from inside look to a spectacular new pool and garden designed by Georgia Nichols. White painted brick gleams next to the white weatherboards of the original house while the playful hipped roof form adapts to minimise overshadowing to the neighbour.

New floor-to-ceiling windows in the dining-living area and new rumpus room orientate towards the pool and garden, creating a warm, light interior. When the glazed sliding doors are open the whole thing becomes an outdoor space and the interior and exterior work really well together.

The house sits in a street of predominantly light coloured, timber houses. The materials selected were chosen to strike a balance between practical and beautiful. Natural, sustainable materials have been used wherever possible. Red bricks were recycled by the client and reused as garden seating. The white brick rear elevation gleams in the north sun, providing the perfect backdrop to the new pool and garden. Generous, strategically placed glazing contributes to warm and light the stunning interiors by Julianne Bull. Inside, the existing lounge area has been updated with a new brick plinth and fireplace, the brickwork seat referencing the new addition. The new rumpus room and study uses sustainable timber flooring to create warmth.

What sustainability measures were used? 


The new addition is kept small, while the existing house is retained intact, reducing waste. Internal spaces look to the garden and pool, vistas that pulls your eye out, a deliberate strategy to make the spaces feel larger. The roof, walls and floor of the new addition are highly insulated while new ceiling insulation to the existing house improves overall performance. Large amounts of thermal mass in the form of bagged and painted internal brick walls bring comfort on hot summer days and cool winter nights, while cross ventilation has been carefully considered so that mechanical ventilation is rarely required. New windows are painted Australian hardwood timber frames with low E clear double glazing. The house uses low energy LED lighting. The existing floor heating system was retained and reworked to suit the alterations.

Team

Architect: Sheri Haby Architects
Interior Designer: The Den Interiors
Structural Engineer: GCE
Building Surveyor: Red Textas
Landscape Architect: Georgia Nichols
Builder: Momentum Building Group
Landscaper: Perspective Plantation
Photographer: Suzi Appel

It is always a pleasure to work with Sheri. I have always found that she has a remarkable ability to listen and understand the clients needs. She translates ideas into thoughtful designs that balance aesthetics and functionality. calm under pressure and with a commitment to excellence, I would recommend her to anyone seeking a talented and reliable architect.

JULIANNE BULL
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