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About Our Team Accreditation Awards Testimonials Services & Fees The Process Projects Additions Alterations Dual Occupancy Heritage Knock Down Rebuild New Homes Secondary Residencies Blog Contact INSTAGRAM
Allan Spira
  • About
    • Our Team
    • Accreditation
    • Awards
    • Testimonials
  • Services & Fees
    • The Process
  • Projects
    • Additions
    • Alterations
    • Dual Occupancy
    • Heritage
    • Knock Down Rebuild
    • New Homes
    • Secondary Residencies
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • INSTAGRAM

Home Conversion – Kaleen, Canberra

Home Projects Additions Home Conversion – Kaleen, Canberra
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Project Description

This single level 1980’s courtyard style project home was typical of its era: small rooms, low ceilings, walk through living spaces, difficult to furnish, dark surfaces and lights on all day!

Due to the house siting on this cul-de-sac block, and the extensive landscaping, extension opportunities were limited. The response was a small push out into the courtyard and considerable re-working of spaces within the current building envelope, coupled with high lined ceiling to the raised roof over the central open planned living area (all centred around the kitchen) which creates a sense of space and brings the established landscape into the house.

The new hard-waxed spotted gum floor unifies all the living spaces. White walls and ceilings reflect the abundant amount of light provided curtesy of a bank of electrically operated shafted skylights, wide north facing stacking sliding doors with highlights, and (at night) concealed and dimmable LED up-lighting.

Careful detailing and fixture selection include illuminated niches for art objects, built in wood fireplace integrated with an entertainment unit, retractable disappearing insect screens, full height cavity sliding doorways, square set wall and ceiling junctions and flush-fit skirtings.

The overall result has been to maintain a reasonably compact footprint but with an overwhelming transformation in the sense of space and connection to the garden; a delightful home conversion!

Plans

Before

kaleen-plans-before

After

kaleen-plans

Similar projects
Award Winner

Award-Winner

ACT Architecture Awards
BCA Certifiers MWT RENOVATION Award 2015

Kaleen Conversion project description

  • Address: 9 Capertee Place ACT 2617
  • Owners: Chris and John Thornton
  • Project completed: December 2014
  • Builder: Golding’s Carpentry
  • Contract: $346,600
  • Area of additions: 23sqm

Original dwelling

  • Built as a project home in 1985
  • “L” shaped 4 bed brick veneer with formal and informal living areas
  • Area: 228 square metres including garage under roof line

The additions comprise:

  • Small 4.8m x 4.7m addition into the courtyard
  • Addition is integrated into the existing living spaces
  • Raised front gable roof to form high hip over new living areas
  • Open planned living/kitchen/dining
  • Artist studio
  • Dedicated library/”away” room
  • Refurbished wet areas
  • Relocated entry

Major issues overcome:

Management of thermal comfort provided by:

  • reversible “Big Ass” fan for distribution of winter heating
  • Operable skylights for evacuation of black heat in summer
  • Stacking sliding doors and integrated Centor screen

Pleasing detail:

Clean contemporary look provided by:

  • Pivot passage doors in face of kitchen cupboards
  • Full height cavity doors with flush skirtings and trims
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