Australian studio Edwards Moore have renovated and extended an apartment in Fitzroy, Melbourne, featuring fitted furniture made of oriented strand board, concrete floors and reflective surfaces.
Called Cubby House, the purpose of the renovation is to provide an additional floor to the existing apartment, influenced by the Raumplan concept of continuous living spaces developed by architect Adolf Loos in the 1920s.
A rotating wardrobe doubles up as wall dividing the space.
The apartment overlooks a public swimming pool.
Photographs are by Peter Bennetts.
The following information is from the architects:
Cubby House
Extension & renovation of an apartment overlooking an adjacent public swimming pool.
The Concept
To provide additional floor area for an upper level bedroom/study space and new bathroom with the lower level acting as the main living space. Inspired by the ‘raumplan’ concept – designing continuous spaces for living rather than regularly divided floors with limited flexibility – the house has minimal doors and walls. Incorporating pool views and making it part of the interior, using reflection and raised planes – new surfaces at the rear of the space are reflective to enhance the ambivalence between interior and exterior.
Lower Level
Featuring a raised ceiling level and an elevated kitchen floor (as part of the staircase) to allow views out and to the pool whilst cooking, with a semi-enclosed balcony performing as part of the living space. A sliding reflective gold box acts as a lobby door, screening the toilet as well as comprising wine storage. This space also includes a bookshelf with an incorporated dog kennel.
Upper Level
New steelwork provides the structure for the new roof form, with a double height void running through the house to the new roof light. Left partly exposed, the steelwork & bracing create a dynamic with the new roof form. The angled ceiling to the bathroom pod enlarges the upper level space and integrates a hole punctured to allow for the shower.
Overlooking the pool, the shower space also provides a view to the sky through the roof light. Glazed panels at each end of the bathroom heighten the presence of natural light and allows for views whilst maintaining a degree of privacy.
Rotating to create a small study or guest bedroom space, an OSB wardrobe with gold reflective plane facing the pool defines the bedroom space. A small external terrace provides a more private, intimate space to the bedroom area and provides natural ventilation through the house.
Materiality
A contrast is created between sharp lines and rough surfaces.Reflecting a neutral palette – reclaimed limed timber, OSB, sisal, vic ash and white concrete floor. Joinery elements include the bookshelf, sliding mirrored gold box, and rotating wardrobe element which acts as wall.
Credits
Architects: Edwards Moore
Construction date: 2009/2010
Contractor: Truscorp Building & Construction
