Caulfield House 2 by Windiate Architects

Caulfield House 2

10.0K profile views
6 saves

This renovation transformed an awkwardly shaped home into a functional and welcoming space for a growing family. The brief focused on improving kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities, while creating a stronger connection to the backyard. Due to site constraints—including flooding overlays and off-street parking requirements—a simple rear extension wasn’t possible. Instead, the design removed the poorly planned rear corner of the house, leaving an L-shaped footprint. New spaces were thoughtfully added: a master ensuite, a reworked family bathroom, an extra bedroom, laundry, and a gallery area. The kitchen and main living zone were placed at the heart of the home, opening out to the garden with a deck, sunshade, and large sliding doors. A standout feature is a window seat in the old back bedroom, now overlooking the landscaped garden with a built-in BBQ and dining terrace. A distinctive ribbon wall, clad in Core-ten steel and broken by glass slots and a new door, unifies the new works. Natural materials—polished concrete, stone benchtops, and timber cabinetry—add warmth and texture. The result is a carefully tailored, light-filled home that supports family life and celebrates the garden connection. Photography: Paul West photography

This renovation transformed an awkwardly shaped home into a functional and welcoming space for a growing family. Read more

Visit Website

Tags

residential renovation extension urban architecture

Project team

Windiate Architects

A thoughtful renovation transforming an awkwardly shaped home into a functional, light-filled space with enhanced kitchen, bathroom, and laundry facilities, seamlessly connecting to a landscaped garden.

Instead, the design removed the poorly planned rear corner of the house, leaving an L-shaped footprint. New spaces were thoughtfully added: a master ensuite, a reworked family bathroom, an extra bedroom, laundry, and a gallery area. The kitchen and main living zone were placed at the heart of the home, opening out to the garden with a deck, sunshade, and large sliding doors.

A standout feature is a window seat in the old back bedroom, now overlooking the landscaped garden with a built-in BBQ and dining terrace. A distinctive ribbon wall, clad in Core-ten steel and broken by glass slots and a new door, unifies the new works. Natural materials—polished concrete, stone benchtops, and timber cabinetry—add warmth and texture. The result is a carefully tailored, light-filled home that supports family life and celebrates the garden connection.

Photography: Paul West photography

9170h 31m

Like this Project?
Hire Windiate Architects

Professional Reviews

1 / 20

“There were many challenges in the brief we gave to Gary. We wanted a contemporary house in a heritage area. We also wanted a house that would be easily accessible for older and disabled persons. The land is narrow and slopes to the rear. Gary worked collaboratively with us on the design; he listened and constructively resolved the many issues that confronted us. The Council provided very few guidelines in relation to these requirements, but Gary was able to work through the impediments and obtain the approvals. We wanted a modern house that would stand as an equal to the historic 1880’s terraces around us. The appearance of the house needed to be in proportion with the adjacent double story victorian terrace. This was achieved through clever and nuanced design elements that elongated the façade, and was then absorbed into the rest of the house through interesting ceiling and room configurations. The hallways and rooms needed to accommodate possible future wheelchairs. So, all spaces are sufficiently wide and internal steps have been replaced with ramps. The use of internal gardens, both downstairs and upstairs, plus the liberal inclusion of skylights provide wonderful light and ventilation. An important feature is a large basement that has the laundry, a great deal of storage and work area, and all of the services such as hydronic heating, hot water, pumps, solar inverters and future batteries and the lift that moves through each of the three levels. Gary has achieved an outcome with which we are extremely pleased and he can feel justifiable proud of.”

William Robb