Nic Owen Architects designed a renovation and extension to the rear of an existing house in Melbourne, Australia.The existing house, while generous in size, lacked a clearly thought out plan. The land dropped by 5.5m over the length of the site and further complicated the spatial arrangement of the home. The design required a rearrangement of spaces to better cater for the young family, relating each space to the outside world. The claw’s roof is designed to provide solar protection to the north while allowing the winter sun indoors. Full height glazing on three sides extends the living environment into the rear landscaped yard. The main goal was to bring natural light into the family home. The folding theme has been continued in the joinery, with folding bench-tops in the kitchen and folding plywood elements in the bathrooms. A splash of hue complements the simple color palette, with colored glass used throughout.
