Laurel Street Project

Alterations and Additions to an existing Californian Bungalow This Californian Bungalow was originally built circa 1915 during the inner-war subdivision and development boom in the Lower North Shore. This double brick Californian Bungalow sits on sandstone foundations and has a terracotta tiled hipped roof. It was built with typical narrow proportions on a rectangular lot along the northwest to southeast axis, with a width of approximately 10m. The small front yard has a car hardstand and an access footpath to the entrance. When this house was bought by its current owners it was vacant, hardly liveable, and the old toilet was located outside in the attached laundry shed, couple of hundreds of pigeons made it their home. The development’s brief was to create a five-bedroom home that would have a wide-open feel. The garden had to be visible from every corner of the main living space, and the kitchen, as the hub of the house, must be central, convenient, and easy to use. The final design comprises a house with large, glazed doors and windows facing east and south, opening out to two covered outdoor areas which play an important role in connecting the interior and exterior. The location of the kitchen made use of the western wall, which required the fewest openings, minimising the exposure to the western sun. The built-in herb and fruit containers are a bonus, dividing the large island bench, and separating the preparation area from the dining area. The original entrance and front bedrooms were maintained, keeping the original layout to the front of the house, and maintaining the front façade. Externally, the top floor merged with the Californian Bungalow look adding two bedrooms to the front of the building and a large master bedroom suite facing the rear garden. Photography: Rebecca Lu, Hilit Einav