Carpenter House was originally a traditional weatherboard bungalow located on a busy road in Brighton Victoria. Built on a small block of land so space needed to be maximised whilst allowing living spaces to interact freely with the outdoors. This presented Lindsay Douglas of Dig Design the challenge of creating something modern whilst maintaining the traditional characteristic of the neighbourhood.
The outside fence and boundaries of the home became the definition of the building. Dig Design stretched the building elements to the boundaries so that it gives a sense of a large space. Window frames were set into the floor and ceiling to also contribute to the key challenge, to increase the sense of space.
The client’s brief was for a home that would suit the needs of a young family to later adapt to their needs in the future. Bringing the family together for interaction was key.
Dig Design wanted the veranda to be a focal point of the home as it is the main area that connects the interior to the exterior. To soften the edges of the veranda, curved walls were implemented to create the illusion of the space being bigger than it actually is. This clever design element is a wonderful feature of the home.
A light filled stairwell from the void fills the whole area which allows the house to embrace natural light. Natural light was a desirable element as it did not exist in the previous home.
Vantage Series 616 fixed and awning windows were used throughout the build as well as Vantage Series 618cavity sliding door was used to connect the living room to the outdoors. The cavity sliding door is used when the façade is to appear neat and tidy. This also contributes to the key requirements of making the space appear bigger.
Carpenter House won the 2014, Building Designers Association of Victoria Awards for the category Residential Alterations + Additions Over $500K Construction Cost.
