SMALL HOUSE

About This Project

Small House captures the desire for simple and minimal living.

Our client’s brief was to explore ways they could build a freestanding adaptable home within their existing property. The central idea emerged of creating a new Small House which was separate to the existing house (the Big House). As the design of Small House developed, the decision was made to renovate and extend the existing single storey garage at the end of the garden. What emerged was a series of adaptable spaces which could be used in a variety of ways.

The existing garage space incorporates a fold down bed and concealed laundry. New timber bi-fold doors connect to the entrance courtyard. The ground floor also includes a kitchen, dining, living area. On the first floor are two spaces which can be used as bedrooms, work or living spaces. A tiled core extends over two stories and accommodates compact wet areas on each floor. This adaptability allows for guests or adult aged children to visit, for large and small gatherings, work and recreation. The ground floor connects to a leafy courtyard to the east and an entrance courtyard to the south.

Small House has become our client’s primary place of residence. It is an example of how existing residential sites can be creatively adapted to suit new ways of living.