An ingenious alternative wins recognition for taking home extension to a new level
The design brief
This family were considering how to create additional space and achieve a more open living area, a frequent request from residents of Sydney’s inner city suburbs. To increase their internal space the owner’s had accepted the inevitability of increasing their semi’s footprint and reducing their already small back yard.
The brief was to find significant additional space and maintain a good flow through their semi-detached house that had already had a second story extension.
The challenge
Long term residents invariably form entrenched architectural ideas when considering renovation options and their home’s extension. Striving to create additional space and an open-plan living area routinely suggests adding a floor and/or increasing your building footprint.
To increase the living area by anything approaching 50% mandated adding a third floor, neither the neighbours nor council planners would entertain increasing the building’s height. Without a cost effective ‘Plan Ahead’ alternative the family would face the expense and inconvenience of relocating.
.
The planned solution
Plan Ahead Designs’ detailed survey of the original structure and existing second story extension revealed that the previous renovation work had created a significant architectural void between the house’s original ceiling and the extension’s floor level. Valuable space that had been wasted that could now be reclaimed and capitalised upon in Plan Ahead’s new renovation concept. Plan Ahead Designs quite radical approach broke with tradition to deliver this inventive ‘Gold Medal’ winning extension. By working creatively within the existing structure this alternative solution has fulfilled the owner’s living needs by cleverly constructing a three floor dwelling within the existing building’s envelope.
The resulting outcome
Every house has the potential for further interior space, and there are multiple ways to redesign, renovate and extend a home. The best way to alter and improve its functionality is not always the most obvious approach.
Reclaiming lost space to create a third floor kept ceiling heights comfortable, plus relocation of the existing and previously proposed stairs to a central location improved flow and optimised space still further.
Plan Ahead Designs quite brilliant approach to solving this family’s space issues broke with tradition to create accommodation that capitalises on Sydney’s indoor/outdoor living.
This inventive award winning extension is the most recent of four that Plan Ahead Designs have delivered, a long standing creative association they are privileged to have with neighbours that all enjoy the results of planning ahead’s inventive approach.
