I just noticed I haven't posted my projects in the forum for a long long long time. In fact, most of which disappeared with PushPullBar1 being hacked.

Anyway, I am going to post 2 projects, one that used to be on PushPullBar1 and have since been completed. The OTHER PROJECT (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7141) will be one I am currently working on right now and in Design Development stage.

For the old-timers of PushPullBar1, you might remember this project titled 'Camelia Cottage', a renovation+extension project for a terrace house in Melbourne.

Terrace houses in inner-city suburbs are usually a layering of various add-ons at various points in time. This very low budget project is trying to minimise the work needed to be done by keeping the existing toilet addition, yet reorganising the space into a more usable and comfortable environment.

Whilst respecting the quality of space in the existing terrace house, I aimed to give a clear indication that this is a dramatic insertion at the back of the property at this point in time. Playing with the existing name of the property 'Camelia Cottage' and the single female client, I envisaged a blossom in the monotonous heritage green, salmon pink, beige and corrugated sheeting urban
landscape. It is also very important to draw the attention to dodgy details due to the limited budget and have a bit of visual energy to combat the grey Melbourne weather. It is intended that the insertion to visually link the very intimate indoors to the also very intimate outdoor space.

Despite my attempts to convince the client to go pink, the client finally decided, after the colour scheme going green (tea leaves), then duck-egg blue/turquoise (glazed tea cup colours), to go blue.

existing/demolition plan

some existing photos... this photo was only possible after cleaning up the mess and pushing over the crumbling rear property wall.
that rotting green structure literally only had about a dozen nails in it when we pulled it down.:eek:

existing living room.

as you can see it's a very dark space and the windows and doors are not doing much in letting light in.

proposed plan and section

The main thing was the introduction of a 450mm storage unit and new facade to the toilet/laundry block. Reorganised the entrance to the bathroom away from the kitchen thereby giving the kitchen more space.

The side storage area has also been pulled away from the bedroom window, allowing light and ventilation back into the bedroom. The small window also can frame the plant in that small light court.

some construction sequence.

The 450mm storage unit also houses a rain-water tank for garden use.

finished product.

from new dining room, seated

looking back in

from corridor

here you can see the new door to the bathroom and part of the new kitchen

the existing living room with the new storage area, letting light in through existing doors and windows

the fireplace was replaced with more storage.

the memory of the fireplace remains and now serves as the space for the tv, which i see as a contemporary interpretation of a fireplace (something you stare at and it glows)

the storage platform also forms part of the seating for the living room

view through to the backyard

the new storage area is also a great nook to enjoy natural light and read a book.

seen here is the reinstated bedroom window and the small light court with a plant

existing windows and doors.

the small window on the left should frame the plant when it gets taller.

last one... the exterior again (with doors closed)

the slot window gives the bath/shower privacy and connection with the vegetation in the garden and trees beyond.

the slatted timber screen conceals the exhaust fan.

the bricks for the planter is recycled from the old chimney we pulled out.


the great thing about this project has been that when i show other architects and told them the scope of work, before and after shots and told them to guess the price, it usually comes in about double of what the cost of this project was.
i don't want to commit professional suicide by saying i can make champagne out of beer-budget projects, but i think for the discussion on this forum, it's worth mentioning.

I loved this project and it is great to see what has become of it....even in blue. The spaces and the light are fantastic. I especially like the disappearing boundary between inside and outside and the light well....no, in fact, it is all beautiful and beautifully detailed and crafted by the looks of the photos. A project like this really makes me want to move to Melbourne and buy my own terrace house to rebuild. Those things don't exist here. Great job!!!!!! :not worth

Great work- very clever strategy of colour and details to maximise the budget

The nook is beautiful- as is the small light court...and the continuity and flow of the joinery + abstraction of structural elements (bath)

Very true re the fireplace- though I think the mental activity of staring at a fire is more stimulating!!

though I think the mental activity of staring at a fire is more stimulating!!

oh i agree 100% on that!
but for inner city living, fireplaces do choke up the air.

i think 1 day use of the most efficient fireplace equates to 1 year of car exhaust pollutant particles amount (according to Dr.Karl (http://www.abc.net.au/science/k2/)), definitely not good for asthmatics

Exactly- the answer then is to get rid of the television!

I've always admired the view in post 14. Didn't you also have an evening shot of that?

this is very inspiring! thanks for posting this again here kev!

A great little audacious project!
Yes, the nook is a superb idea, and it really does make the whole house laugh.
Before and after shots are amazing too.
I think Camelia cottage (btw, shouldn't it be Camellia?) should have been in camelia colour as the original proposal. At least I like that better.
What kind of paint is it? Did you use the same paint interior and exterior?

It is a nice project and a nice design. The before- after- pictures give a good view on the change on the building site and shows that it was the right design.
I also like the idea of the box out of the building. The idea with the fields of it is a nice play of small spaces.The colour Pink- of course would have been interesting too. Perhaps the blue surface is not as flaring, which makes it more timeless.
The reflections of the box facade gives the room more wideness, gives optical more space.
I like also post14 and it`s view. Night shots and the situation of the building outside- inside at night would be nice to see too, I agree.

You have used a lot of differet materials in the building- what was the intention behind it-
also there is a lot of change of different wood- what was the intention behind it?-
optical ones, experimenting with the material or because of the different qualities of it?
In general it is great and I can image it is nice to live in it. It transports a good feeling. Good work done.:clap:

btw, shouldn't it be Camellia?

don't blame me... someone got it wrong WAY BACK in time.

and yes, same paint on the blue box inside and out or batches risk being slightly different

I've always admired the view in post 14. Didn't you also have an evening shot of that?

you mean this early shot?

You have used a lot of differet materials in the building- what was the intention behind it-
also there is a lot of change of different wood- what was the intention behind it?-
optical ones, experimenting with the material or because of the different qualities of it?

Well, initially the project did not include redoing the flooring for the living room area (or even redoing the kitchen joinery, it was meant to be stainless steel Ikea stuff).

And of course, due to budget and whatever we could get our hands on cheaply, it turned out what it was as the client wanted additional work done. The storage platform was always meant to be plywood though.

I thought the palette was kept quite simple and consistent all the way through except when it meets the blue box though...

Here is the only shot I have of the kitchen (with all her stuff of course)

you mean this early shot?
Yes! That's the one!
The day lit shot does it even better though.

Interesting little project, full of clever details and solutions!
The light court makes a dramatic change in the lighting conditions on the core of the house. It's interesting to see the "pictorical" effect of the existing openings of the living room, now frameless, looking onto the light court, which by itself is a very inviting space. I can only imagine it will get better as the vegetation grows.
The bathroom / storage volume and the new dining space do a great work in reorganizing what was a totally chaotic part of the house, and establishing a strong connection between interior and exterior.
At the risk of being too picky, I would just say that IMO the transition between the kitchen and the storage / bathroom wall panels, visible in post #13, could have been better, as they seem to be somewhat unrelated elements as it is. But perhaps making this different wouldn't fit the budget?

Despite my attempts to convince the client to go pink, the client finally decided, after the colour scheme going green (tea leaves), then duck-egg blue/turquoise (glazed tea cup colours), to go blue.

Kevin, I'm all for the client's decision :D
Just a matter of taste though, I would be tired with the pink after two months.
It would also bleed through to the kitchen and living room I guess.
Did a mockup for comparison, changed the composition of the side to your original drawing, garden wall wasn't altered.

A question regarding the plan:
Why did you choose to position the bathroom at the opposite wall (where's south by the way) of the bedrooms? Did you consider using the glazed part next to the living area as a corridor between bathroom and bedrooms? It would have enlarged the living - kitchen - dining area IMO. Was this for reasons of budget or was it the intent to have a succession of different spaces? I like the fragmentation, but on the other hand, would have wanted to maximize the space.

Thanks for reposting this here, very refreshing project!

At the risk of being too picky, I would just say that IMO the transition between the kitchen and the storage / bathroom wall panels, visible in post #13, could have been better, as they seem to be somewhat unrelated elements as it is. But perhaps making this different wouldn't fit the budget?

oh i agree... but considering that the kitchen was meant to be a 'drop in' free standing Ikea stainless steel kitchen units until one night I got a call from the builder who told me the client suddenly told him to just build him a kitchen and he was about to go and order it but just wanted to run it by me.

naturally i freaked out and in a couple of hours drew up (in sketchup) the new kitchen to be priced and built by the cabinet maker.

that's why it's not a shot i usually show.

Kevin, I'm all for the client's decision :D
Just a matter of taste though, I would be tired with the pink after two months.
It would also bleed through to the kitchen and living room I guess.
Did a mockup for comparison, changed the composition of the side to your original drawing, garden wall wasn't altered.

A question regarding the plan:
Why did you choose to position the bathroom at the opposite wall (where's south by the way) of the bedrooms? Did you consider using the glazed part next to the living area as a corridor between bathroom and bedrooms? It would have enlarged the living - kitchen - dining area IMO. Was this for reasons of budget or was it the intent to have a succession of different spaces? I like the fragmentation, but on the other hand, would have wanted to maximize the space.

Thanks for reposting this here, very refreshing project!


I think you got the wrong pinks :D :poke fun: seriously... the colour choice and composition of each scheme took a long time to get right.

In regards to the plan, the back area faces north (where the sun is in the southern hemisphere). If you look at the existing plan, the existing photos, you will know that it is the existing bathroom. Originally we were not going to touch any waterproofing of the existing bathroom (in order to save money), but it turned out that the original construction was so poor we had to do something about it. It has been completely re-tiled.

I think you got the wrong pinks :D :poke fun: seriously... the colour choice and composition of each scheme took a long time to get right.

Ah, I didn't know there was such a thing as right pinks! :poke fun:

And I thaught the new bathroom replaced the old one, my mistake. :rolleyes:

Very nice project Swank-E :)

great demonstration of talent, here, master Kevin!
I really love the interiors shot, the way the light bounces on the wooden floor, exactly the way it would look like in a vray render :D

and what wad the real price?

Lovely little project. I agree the pink would of been a better fit. The blue/green palette is nice but does not go well with the grey tile...maybe a more earthy tone for the tile would help. What's the purpose of the wide wooden transition piece?

Congrats Kevin! I remember you freaking out about the kitchen cabinets, you pulled it out great!
PS: that decorated tea set looks great! care to share the skp components? :poke fun:

Beautifully done, would you mind sharing more about the materials? It doesn't look beer budget at all. Like for instance, what is the blue box clad in and is it the same material on the interior as exterior?

It turned out well Kevin. Good job.

What is the material that is the gloss blue and green? Is it just paint? Or backpainted glass? It looks like enameled metal in the photos, but it can't be. Don't tell me its wood with gloss paint!

Beautifully done, would you mind sharing more about the materials? It doesn't look beer budget at all. Like for instance, what is the blue box clad in and is it the same material on the interior as exterior?

If I remember correctly that is a special plywood board with some kind of finish on it that is then painted? Is that right Kevin? Its been a while since you were telling me about that. I asked the same thing Steven :)

glad to see you posting this Kevin. I really like the clean and simple design.

Would you care to share any details on this project? :)

by the way, nice photography on documenting this project too. magazine quality work :clap:

... I don't know what words to use to express my opinion on this one...great?
warm and who-wouldn't-live-in-it great? :wondering
well,just-:clap::clap::clap::clap:
:not worth:not worth:not worth:not worth:

really good job Kev-photos are beautiful..:cool:

sorry for the "off topic" but, what software do you use to do the plan like this (in a presentation/soft draw)?

http://img504.imageshack.us/img504/6726/camelia20cottage20planmn9.jpg

What is the material that is the gloss blue and green? Is it just paint? Or backpainted glass? It looks like enameled metal in the photos, but it can't be. Don't tell me its wood with gloss paint!

It's form-ply with gloss paint... yes.

sorry for the "off topic" but, what software do you use to do the plan like this (in a presentation/soft draw)?

it's with HighDesign (http://www.ilexsoft.com/highdesign), a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) interface CAD program.

Would you care to share any details on this project? :)


not much details here, WYSIWYG!

volume layout and daylighting are just right in the "reading nook"

well done

it's with HighDesign (http://www.ilexsoft.com/highdesign), a WYSIWYG (What you see is what you get) interface CAD program.

thanks!!

but, is there a software like this, to ms windows???

a crafted and beautiful building/design...further enhanced by an effective budget/cost - inspirational, thanks for sharing Kevin

Lovely little project. I agree the pink would of been a better fit. The blue/green palette is nice but does not go well with the grey tile...maybe a more earthy tone for the tile would help. What's the purpose of the wide wooden transition piece?

i agree about changing the tile (the earthy tone may definitely solve the problem) because i really like the blue/green mix palette....
it s really ispiring...
nice way to make the transition between outdoor and indoor:rock on:

wow i adore this project. Very nice done details, light colors, wood...
And as someone said - very good connection between front and back parts.

Swanke is there any way you could post a bigger floor plan? Maybe with some measurmnets showen on it also?

this wonderful project just comes to prove one can do Architecture with the smallest of programs and budgets. bravo!

Kevin, it looked like there was a gutter on the very end of the bathroom structure in the original house, and of course there is no gutter visible in the final on the blue wall. How did you go about draining the roof without this gutter?

Simple, Richey, and modern

Thanks for sharing mate, nice little project..

Do you think this project was a good investment? Photographs nicely but seems the living spaces are a little closed off from the outside?

thanks!!

but, is there a software like this, to ms windows???

NAH.... one for us Maccies only :rock on:

Really nice project! I like very much the idea of the 'blue block' (and I think it's absolutely better blue than pink!)

Do you think this project was a good investment? Photographs nicely but seems the living spaces are a little closed off from the outside?

Hum I agree but I think he did the best choice in that restricted space!

An excellent little project. Quite often the little ones are the most fun, most rewarding and have the best results. Maybe it's because as architects we can spend more time on the intimate details, and the clients / user can associate more closely with the results.

I'm very curious as to how the consenting process went. I've heard stories about how difficult it can be to get something through Melbourne council if it's significantly different from the original - and yours is just that in appearance - yes it's at the back, but councils sometimes have no reason). Please tell...

Truly one of my favourite extension projects. Those old innercity row cottages are a difficult renovation from a space perspective and planning constraints. Thankyou for sharing.

proposed plan and section

... The small window also can frame the plant in that small light court.

It's a relatively small area but with the "small light court" it seems bigger!

"The small window also can frame the plant ", this is the chinese garden technic called 借景 (scenery borrowing), a way to creat spacious feeling in a limited area. That's why we see in the traditional chinese painting the "raods" are never straight and the space is "sectioned" into small spaces. Prehaps SWANK-E, though trained in Australia, has a little chinese garden in his heart:)?
Nice work...

It's a relatively small area but with the "small light court" it seems bigger!

"The small window also can frame the plant ", this is the chinese garden technic called 借景 (scenery borrowing), a way to creat spacious feeling in a limited area. That's why we see in the traditional chinese painting the "raods" are never straight and the space is "sectioned" into small spaces. Prehaps SWANK-E, though trained in Australia, has a little chinese garden in his heart:)?
Nice work...

Ming Dynasty Chinese Garden design technique was my thesis project and have always been interested in traditional East Asian architecture. See the Terrain House (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=7141) project for more direct influence by Chinese Garden design techniques.

The little window however is not borrowed scenery 借景 as you have described. Borrowed scenery in East Asian architecture refers to something a lot further a way such as a distant mountain, pagoda or even trees. The little window is merely allowing different ways to view the same space from different angles much like the smaller light courts in Chinese Gardens to create richness of spatial experience within small confines.

Interesting you have spotted the influence though :)

Ming Dynasty Chinese Garden design technique was my thesis project and have always been interested in traditional East Asian architecture
Funny, me thesis projet concerns as well chinese garden but in the chinese architecture context:) (Actually how to use some traditional concepts to develop modern chinese architecture...)



The little window however is not borrowed scenery 借景 as you have described. Borrowed scenery in East Asian architecture refers to something a lot further a way such as a distant mountain, pagoda or even trees.
What you mentioned is 遠借 (far borrowing) but there is also 近借 (near borrowing) with a more human scale - like just between 2 adjacent spaces.



The little window is merely allowing different ways to view the same space from different angles much like the smaller light courts in Chinese Gardens to create richness of spatial experience within small confines.
The difference between "allowing different ways to view" and "borrow a scenery" is subtle. When you use a frame or an opening to "frame" a view, it's an act of borrowing as it involves in space transfering from background to a closer plan. What is interesting here is that you creat a "scenery" and it is framed to an intrinsic appreciation. Perhaps a larger scale permits more comprehensive illustration...



Interesting you have spotted the influence though :)
Perhaps we can call it "intuition":)


When we borrow, we return. Can we return a borrowed scenery?:)

I do remember this project from PBB1. IMO the white interior spaces are the more successful ones here. I like the box, but not the final colours, well maybe it was the fact that I really liked the pinks you first showed.
Great work Kevin.
cheers
dk

I really like this project, particularly as your budget, whatever it was has been more than achieved, that is to be commended in a small and inovative scheme.Well done.
your 2D plans got me thinking about what 2D software Sketchup users recommend...what PC stuff is out there that is as easy and intuitive as SU?

I withdraw this thread, a pitty I have to say as it touches the fondamental concept of this project, since SWANK-E seems not willing to further develop the subject! Surely should the subject provokes his interest in the future, I'm glad to renew the dialogue. Till then, nice navigation...:)

When we borrow, we return. Can we return a borrowed scenery?:)

To conclude what I've advanced, we can return a borrowed scenery by offering the project itself as a scenery insuch a way that the view/scenery of a project will be borrowed by another architect in a future project. This way architecture and nature/environment are interconnected. A dynamism thus creats a dynamic project in terms of form and material used, like this project.
An "objet d'art" is a closed system in which it offers view (instead of scenery) but seldom borrows:)!

so nice a work! I like its color and also the space.:clap:

Kevin, it looked like there was a gutter on the very end of the bathroom structure in the original house, and of course there is no gutter visible in the final on the blue wall. How did you go about draining the roof without this gutter?

Greg, as seen in post #8, the new cladding conceals the new gutter and drainage redirected to the internal water tank.

Now old room transformation was extremely popular in the Chinese , I think in the world also to be such, like your program very much, at least you already turned the blueprint the actual thing, ha-ha. Moreover does is very good. in the past in the classroom I have been a transformation of the old plant operations, but compared to you and there is still a great distance, studied toward you.
my homework web:http://www.abbs.com.cn/bbs/post/view?bid=13&id=335677704&sty=1&tpg=1&ppg=1&age=0#335677704

Wad can i say?? T-O-U-C-H-D-O-W-N!!!
haha..

love the result grrrr hate when clients just make up their own decisions...anyway those pics are really helpful to understand the way you approached the solution!
can u give us a brief cost per sm?

Meta MoCo This Week (http://mocoloco.com/archives/005723.php)

:rock on:

beautiful project! i love the materials and the light airy feel you created. what a contrast!

in this post (http://www.pushpullbar.com/forums/showpost.php?p=101857&postcount=11) it looks like you left a small gap to the right side of the cabinet to let light in. i think that was an excellent choice; it contributes to the open feel and the continuity of the space.

also i disagree with what others have said about the colors, i think the blue works great with the grey tile.

Thanks. Yes that light slit has been something I have done for a few projects and that charcoal porcelain tile is fast becoming my favorite as it is also very cheap but very good quality.

Love this type of super constrained challenging project resolved with the right mix of brio and tact..... and no money....:cheers:

I'm away for a few days, enjoying some R and R in northern New South Wales.
Usual activity when away - mooch around bookshops. Lo and behold! there was Camellia Cottage published in a (new?) book called "Open Doors" - www.mattgibson.com.au/pdf/OpenDoors_2007.pdf
together with a more recent pic of Kevin - Well Done!!! and congratulations, it's a great publication and our Swank-E must be very proud to be associciated with "new trends" in Australia Architecture - Congratulations Kevin!

I'm away for a few days, enjoying some R and R in northern New South Wales.
Usual activity when away - mooch around bookshops. Lo and behold! there was Camellia Cottage published in a (new?) book called "Open Doors" - www.mattgibson.com.au/pdf/OpenDoors_2007.pdf
together with a more recent pic of Kevin - Well Done!!! and congratulations, it's a great publication and our Swank-E must be very proud to be associciated with "new trends" in Australia Architecture - Congratulations Kevin!

Thanks tdmc, except that pdf is Matt Gibson's work, not 4site's.

Here is the link to the book 'Open Doors: Fresh thinking in Australian Architecture and Interiors'
http://www.bookworm.com.au/shop/scditem.asp?ProdID=149351

oops sorry about that Kevin. Still a great outcome!