PROJECTS(^) // BUILDING
16: DESIGN MOUNT ALBERT HOUSE
LOCATION MOUNT ALBERT, AUCKLAND
When faced with the dilemma of what to do
with their 1940s bungalow in Mount Albert,
New Zealand, builder and homeowner Nye
O’Shannessy concluded that subdivision was the
logical answer. Moving the existing structure to
the back of the block, Nye proceeded to build
a new family home at the front while living in
the old house as the new one was being built.
The brief for the new home was fairly simple,
with the form of the building taking shape as
three interlocking cubes, each with a diff erent
function — live, sleep, store — defi ned by
diff erent materials: wood, concrete and metal.
For the living box, Nye was determined to try
his hand at board-formed, in-situ concrete. The
concrete creates visual strength for the centre of
the house and is contrasted by the metal garage
cube at the front of the house and the wooden
box that houses the bedrooms at the back. With
a relatively small footprint — just 180 square
metres — the three-bed family home is designed
with an effi cient use of space and constructed
with energy-effi cient materials and amenities
that make it an aesthetically pleasing package.
Architectural Design Jan Bernau
Photography Jamie Cobel
17: DESIGN BRUNSWICK HOUSE
LOCATION BRUNSWICK, VICTORIA
After purchasing a double-fronted terrace
in Brunswick, the homeowners wanted to
renovate and repair the dilapidated house in
just 12 weeks. “When the clients purchased the
property, it was in a state of disrepair and was
unliveable,” says Jan Gyrn, managing director
of Modscape. “The clients renovated the front
four rooms themselves and engaged Modscape
to design and construct an extension, which
included a new kitchen/living/dining space and
a mezzanine master suite.” In order to achieve
this within their timeframe, the homeowners
decided to go with prefab construction. While
the new extension was manufactured in the
Modscape factory, landscaping and pool
works were completed onsite, cutting down
on the time the homeowners were out of their
house. “By constructing the extension in our
factory, we were able to reduce site waste and
environmental impact,” adds Jan. Utilising fully
recyclable structural insulated panels, which
are excellent for insulation and soundproofi ng,
the new extension became a point of diff erence
from the original dwelling, presenting a simple
and geometric form that is both modern and
contemporary in nature.
Architectural and Interior Design, and Builder
Modscape (modscape.com.au)
Photography Jack Lovel
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