Snorkel House

Snorkel House manifested from a comprehensive, exciting brief from our clients; a young family in the inner north suburb of Campbell.

The clients' brief emphasized the need to address several critical components, including privacy, thermal performance, and functionality of the existing house. The original double brick home had several design flaws, such as an entry point located more than halfway down the block from the street, which compromised the family's privacy from visitors. Additionally, the existing internal layout was poorly designed, with bedrooms facing each other and providing little privacy for the centrally located main bedroom. The kitchen and laundry were also undersized and poorly configured, making it challenging for the young family to accommodate their needs. Other key requirements included the need for covered parking spaces and improving the thermal envelope of the existing double brick single glazed building.

The redesign addressed the client's requirements by creating a serene north-facing courtyard garden for privacy, a separate parents' retreat with a second sitting room for adult relaxation, introducing a visually appealing ceiling design, adding private courtyards to new bedrooms, and creating a distinctive yet unassuming street frontage. All of these elements were crucial components of the project brief that were successfully implemented in the design.

The mature tree on the neighbouring property offered a unique opportunity to incorporate a playful design element to the street facade, which took the form of a striking "snorkel" feature. This design draws not only abundant northern light into the sitting room but also offers stunning views of the sky and the neighbouring tree. At night, the snorkel transforms into an eye-catching orange beacon that enhances the visual appeal of the home's street presence. The living room and snorkel feature can be conveniently separated from the children's bedrooms and main living areas, providing an exclusive and private space for the parents to relax and unwind.

The children's bedrooms have been designed to take advantage of a substantial northern aspect, providing abundant natural light and warmth throughout the day. This creates a comfortable and inviting space where children can learn, play, and grow for years to come, while also enjoying direct access to the new northern courtyard.

The reconfigured open-plan living, dining and kitchen space at the rear of the home provides a hub for interaction and family time, balancing other quiet spaces within the home.  The internal planning is complimented by easy access to the outdoors, especially around the new northern courtyard and timber deck that enables quick and easy external circulation from many rooms of the home.

The new entry is now located much closer to the front boundary, providing a buffer and greatly appreciated privacy for the family in all areas of their reinvigorated home.

The thermal performance of the existing building has been significantly improved with the installation of high-quality insulation in the double brick walls, ceiling, and underfloor. To further enhance the energy efficiency, double-glazed thermally broken aluminium windows and doors have been fitted throughout the house. These improvements have resulted in a cozy home during winter and a cool space during summer, reducing the need for the existing evaporative cooling system.