Freadman White have an ongoing interest in understanding how architecture can foster bonding relationships with its surroundings and how it can positively contribute to a community’s contemporary way of life. Hoddle Street House is foundered upon this philosophy. The conceptual basis of this project was to nurture the changing needs of a young family over time, through the creation of generous spaces with a high degree of flexibility.

Externally, the addition offers a first impression of solidity, reminiscent of the existing 1930s brick dwelling it is connected to. However, sheer curtaining coupled with variegated window heights and depths blurs this static formalism. Whilst the street is textured with weatherboard, brick and  stucco single dwellings and apartments, a common feature is the hipped roof. In this addition, the exterior roof form is hidden from view. It is not until one experiences the internal spaces of the addition that the angular forms of the hip roof type appear, in the form of dramatically raking ceilings.

The project brief was to extend the floor area of the existing 1930s residence to create additional bedrooms, a flexible space, new living, dining and kitchen areas, which would take advantage of the back yard and north-westerly orientation. One of the primary deficiencies observed in the existing condition was that the living and dining areas were buried deep within the plan; the laundry and garage receiving maximum solar and light ingress and the back garden out of reach. The design approach was to relocate the laundry to the centre of the plan, creating a collection of wet area rooms; a new en suite, bathroom and powder room that all shared similar services needs and required minimal ceiling heights. This decision enabled the ceilings in the bedroom wing to seamlessly pass through the wet area spaces into the addition where the flat and raked ceilings meet and the space extends out to the garden.

Our client had a requirement for additional space for their young children to explore. We approached the creation of this space by designing a room of indeterminate function, connected to the large living areas by a large slider; this could be a rumpus room, reading room, large dining room, or sleep-out. The room is bereft of joinery, or other programming features; its only determining feature is a connection to the garden, deck and living room, making it a space open to variability and change. This level of flexibility was specified by the client, however provides additional benefit.

During our preliminary conversations with the client, it was agreed that detailed upgrades to the existing should be phased into the future, with the focus of this commission to add volume. In this spirit, original period details were also retained and made good and existing wall structure was retained where feasible.

The client required vistas across the yard, as a means to watch over the children from the kitchen. A deceptively simple approach was taken by the landscaping contractor to express the boundary fences, creating a black paling fence strip around the yard. This ‘horizon line' can be seen form several points within the addition, giving the impression that the floor area extends right across the grade level deck and lawn to the boundary. or  expansive view also affords clear views to the children from the kitchen.