Back to Architecture main page
Heine residence, Yarraville
The client came to me just as he was getting his building permit and was ready to start building. Upon viewing the plans and asking if he wanted my opinion, I said he would not be pleased with his investment for the following reasons:
- Layout
- The entry was into a small passage which serviced the bedrooms
- The bathroom was off the entry passage/living area
- Design Solution
- Create a separate entry to welcome people and protect residents of the house
- Reposition bathroom in between bedrooms to give access via passage separate from the living area, providing privacy, security and noise control
The original plans
The new plans by Hans van Wilgenburg
- Wasted space
- The pantry, laundry and main upstairs bedroom was too big
- There was wasted space around the kitchen space resulting in insufficient room for the Dining/Family Room
- The 1200mm wide upper balcony was a waste because it was too narrow to set up a table and chairs
- Design Solution
- Reposition and reduce size of the laundry and pantry
- Move kitchen to give maximum space to the Dining/Family area in addition to extending the room one metre
- Make the balcony square to allow for table setting under a covered roof
- Ventilation
In Melbourne houses need to the maintain warmth during winter and allow cross ventilation for the summer.
- There was no cross ventilation in the living room, kitchen and family room and main bedroom upstairs; all these rooms would become unbearable in summer
- Design Solution
- Establish the direction of the prevailing wind
- Add small windows in the bedrooms and living areas to ensure cross ventilation
- Close off different sections of the house to control noise and heating for energy efficiency
- Sight lines
A unique feature of this property was that the north facing rear yard overlooks parklands. An important factor was not only to get the north sun into the living areas but also to have sight lines to the park.
- Limited views from the living area
- Design Solution
- Introduce internal windows to allow the living room to have views through the family room to the parklands
- The mass of the building
- The first impression of the front elevation is that the upper floor is added on and has not been integrated with the existing building
- Design Solution
- Reduce the floor to ceiling height of the first floor level
Client’s testimonial
‘Hans from Living Colour Studio has been a critical part of making our major residential renovation project a success.
‘Our original design, prepared by a draftsman, was simply not working, so we asked Hans to design another solution. Using a well considered, and collaborative process, Hans was able to turn a previously drab and predictable design into a solution which was not only visually interesting and aesthetically pleasing, but also sympathetic to the streetscape, very functional and highly responsive to the personal needs of both its owners.
‘The renovation has also proven to give the best possible value for the money spent as the outcome has been so positive - I have no doubt that our previous design would not have done this as we would have ended up with a home which was simply not quite right, even though we would still have spent significant money on the construction.
‘We are delighted with the results, and would like to thank Hans and Living Colour for creating a space which is a pleasure to live in.’
~ Mike Heine, Yarraville
For an obligation-free discussion of your needs, please contact us.
Back to Architecture main page.
