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Modern

Bateau Bay on the Central Coast of New South Wales is extremely picturesque, just a short stroll from the beach and a national park. However, while the site for the Modernist house is idyllic, the original 1970s single-storey brick home, was far from appealing, particularly for a couple with two young children - small rooms and little connection to the garden (a plot of 580 square metres).

While the site and original house were modest, the owners came with grander ideas, many of which were driven by their love of modernist post-war architecture that can be found in places such as Palm Springs. Fortunately, the house came with ‘good bones’ (a few of the original exterior and interior walls were retained) as well as a north-facing back garden with views of the national park. There was also the home’s concrete slab which would provide the foundations for a two-storey house.

Although the new design has elements from the 1950s – breezeblock fences, crazy paving and large picture windows, this is clearly a contemporary home, designed for a family. At ground level, there are now two bedrooms for the two daughters with a shared bathroom. There’s also a separate room for watching television, a home office and a new double garage, complete with its timber door. And replacing the pokey kitchen is now a generous open plan kitchen, dining and living area, framed by floor-to-ceiling windows and doors, as well as celestial windows that take in the established gum trees in the national park. And while the house appears considerably larger, it’s still a relatively small footprint. Part of the generosity in terms of scale is due to the home’s broad eaves that take advantage of the relatively wide site (13 metres). And on the top floor, one can find the parent’s domain, including the main bedroom, ensuite and walk-in dressing area.

Given the owner’s collection of furniture and art, it was decided from the outset to create a clean and fairly minimal palette – the exterior being white painted bricks with the interior predominantly white walls and polished concrete floors in the living areas. There was also room to fulfil the owners' more whimsical tastes, including experimenting with a variety of tiles and finishes in areas such as bathrooms and in the kitchen – the latter featuring a terrazzo and tiled island bench. Tiles were also used to clad the fireplace in the living area.

Unlike the former house that ‘turned in on itself’, the Point Street house has been thoughtfully designed with courtyards as well as strategically-placed windows that create a strong connection to the outdoors, including a window seat in the living area that benefits from unimpeded sight lines to the new swimming pool (essential with young children). And while the owners previously thought of any excuse to go out, the new house provides not only light-filled spaces but also a sense of the mid-20th-century architecture they so admire.

Text by Stephen Crafti

Builder: Skope Construction

Photo: Luke Butterly

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About the
Professional

Fabric Architecture is a contemporary design studio located on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. We focus on Architecture and design - from buildings to public space, to small scale bespoke furniture design.

Fabric was founded on the belief that Architecture, no matter how large or small, is not a matter of style or trend but an ability to create social interaction and help shape an individuals experience in this world, both in the larger context right down to one’s tactile experience in their immediate surrounding environment. It is throughout this experience that perceptions are altered, building types are re-imagined and new ways of experiencing architecture realised.

We work inclusively with our clients: to work up an open brief, to imagine all possibilities, to open dialogue for collaborative problem solving and to discover methods for providing intentioned yet specific design solutions to real needs.  We feel the most successful projects have both an openness and specificity, so that change may occur but the fundamental ideas remain intact. We seek to create buildings that make intuitive sense at every scale, from the holistic notions of site planning, down to the tangible experience of the touch of a material.

Our approach to Architecture in a constantly changing digital age is all inclusive; with social, practical, economical and environmental issues integrated within the design process. We consider Architecture to be a process of dialogue and we involve selected experts and consultants, across multiple disciplines, in every stage of the design process.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.