J. Wang Residence
When clients come to us they do so for one of two reasons. The first is that they love one of our designs they have seen under construction or have seen images of them sent by their friends. The second is they have heard our praise from their friends or family who have been our past clients. This client was no different and entrusted us with the design for two homes. With all of our designs we treat them as new explorations of design within their local contexts, orientation, landscape and always with a move towards breaking free of preconceived forms and design elements that make new homes look like cheaply “purchased products” rather than unique design responses that make people in the street stop and study them.
This substantial plot was formerly two separate allotments, each one approximately 900 square metres in area. This amalgamation would provide the opportunity for Peak Architects to design a large 400-square-metre home for a couple with children. It would also still allow for generous gardens separating neighbours.
Constructed in concrete, with AFS walls (fibrocement), the two-storey house is thoughtfully expressed with curvaceous edges and a timber-battened façade. These battens are on double garage on one side, and on the other, to provide symmetry, enclose a formal living area on the other side. Timber was also used for the broad soffits. Complementing the timber detailing is stonework that flanks the front door that accessed from a stone path.
Working with landscape architect Melissa Wilson, Peak Architects was mindful of bringing light into the deep floorplan as well as allowing the house to benefit from extensive planting – starting on the terraces with curvaceous in situ concrete nooks to chamfered garden beds that allow for vines to create softer and verdant edges and sight lines.
With the client’s brief to create large, open and fluid spaces, there was great endeavour to reduce the number of structural columns. Where support was required, as was the case with the large open plan living areas, a double-sided fireplace between the kitchen and living area was created. So, rather than dividing up areas,