Much to celebrate on this project! It was a delight to closely collaborate with passionate clients who brought clear ideas and requirements to the design process and who loved being across all the details.
And everybody involved celebrated the relocation and eventual restoration of the old Californian bungalow that previously stood on this site. This was not a knock-down-rebuild!
The spacious new home unfolds over two levels, making the most of its site while complying with setback and other council requirements and considering the privacy of neighbours. An open-plan kitchen/dining room opens out onto an outdoor living area facing north and east, sheltered by an external awning roof.
Window design skillfully navigated competing demands. Fundamental is the visual and physical connection to the outdoors. Screens and careful placement provide privacy, window hoods shield from harsh summer sun and triple-glazing ensures a delightfully quiet interior. The aluminium-clad timber frames are the best of both words: the natural appeal of timber inside and the durability and low-maintenance of aluminium outside.
Envirotecture carried out interior design services on this project, beautifully integrated with the architectural design from the earliest stages. There is extensive custom joinery in living areas and bedrooms and storage considered down to the smallest details, like the panelled hallway with its row of coat hooks. Material choices balance budget with impact: bold pops of colour and William Morris wallpaper create rich texture in bedrooms with dramatic raked ceilings, while exquisite tiles in different colours distinguish the bathrooms.
As on every Envirotecture project, materials were carefully considered with regard to sustainability, durability, functionality and aesthetics. The ground floor cladding and decks are Accoya, created by a non-toxic timber treatment that significantly improves wood hardness and stability. It’s pre-finished, requires no maintenance and has an exceptionally long lifespan. The concrete foundation uses low-carbon cement. Inside, sintered stone is used in the kitchen: safe, highly durable and long-lasting. Low-VOC paints have been specified.
The home generates and stores its own power via a rooftop PV array and roofwater is harvested. A green roof is being established on top of the garage, a gentle statement visible from the street. The double garage is accessed from the deep front porch, ensuring sheltered passage to the house without compromising indoor air quality.
One of the clients is from the UK but her previous residence in Sydney was the coldest, most uncomfortable place she’d ever lived in. This home is on track for Passive House certification and the couple are delighted with how it’s living up to its promise: warm, comfortable and healthy. Beloved pooch Boris loves it too and especially the freedom to come and go at will through his not-draughty dog door.
Wrighty-Tighty House will always be a fond milestone for the architects. It’s the first project completed by the firm following the merger of Talina Edwards Architecture with Envirotecture in 2022. The project started with Andy Marlow, Envirotecture’s Sydney-based director and was subsequently led by incoming director Talina Edwards and her team in Victoria.
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