had to work around mature trees on the
roadside perimeter of the site.”
To achieve these objectives, while also
providing the interior space required by
a family with five children, the architect
came up with a design that essentially
splits the house into two parallel volumes
linked by a glass bridge.
“Creating two wings brought many
advantages,” says Francis. “It created a
central courtyard where we could position the swimming pool, which is the focal
point of both wings. It also enabled us to
provide a degree of separation between
the parents’ and children’s accommodation. The master suite is on one side, while
the remaining bedrooms are on the other.”
Another benefit was the way the
design reduced the apparent mass of the
house, which is more then 650m2.
“The house doesn’t look too imposing
or overwhelming, despite its large size,”
says the architect. “The slope of the land
also means the house is stepped over many
different levels, which helps to reduce the
perceived mass. This adds visual interest
Above left: Designing a large family home for a
relatively tight suburban site can be particularly
challenging. To help provide all the interior space
the owners of this house needed, architect Melanie
Francis positioned the entry in the centre of the
car porch.
Top: The entry opens into a fully glazed bridging
element that links the two main volumes. It also
provides a view out the other side to a large
internal courtyard with a swimming pool.
Above: Stairs are accommodated within a glazed
stairwell that looks out onto a koi pond.
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