Side Fence House

This project was a real labour of love for Greenway and the Client and has resulted in a life changing home for them and their two daughters for living, working and interacting with each other and their community. Challenged by cramped and aging quarters, they sought to open up their home to create a contemporary extension supporting the valued older original accommodation.

“Side Fence House” is an extension of a semi-detached Bungalow-style house that takes advantage of its’ unusual triangular shaped block by incorporating the existing Spotted Gum fence seamlessly into the façade of the modest new addition. The new volume makes the most of the awkward dimensions, pushing the living room out onto the side street boundary so it wraps around and faces East towards the garden, with the kitchen roof floating over the top of the lower roof to flood the heart of the house with North light.

Family life, and their working from home business now revolves around the centrally located kitchen, with direct line of sight into the shared study, living room (via a large sliding door) and outdoor dining areas.

A simple palette is maintained internally, with dark charcoal painted timber-framed double-glazed windows, stone benchtops, blackbutt parquetry flooring, and recycled fencing cladding and paving. Recycled red brick with cavity insulation is used as thermal mass on the shared party wall. A negative joint between the old and the new reveals the original brickwork visible through the window next to the new built-in combustion stove fireplace.

Side Fence House is a fresh example of a low-budget contemporary light-filled addition that enhances family life while complimenting the heritage fabric and contributing positively to the streetscape.