Higham Road House by Philip Stejskal Architecture
At Higham Highway Home, a two-room weatherboard cottage fronts the road, dazzling and neat as a pin. To its rear, in deeper shades, sits an extension. Taller than the cottage and visible by way of a hole concerning the initial household and the boundary, it stretches up and is capped by an expressive, pointed roof kind. I puzzled about the characterful nature of this gesture, and afterwards located it articulated highlight home windows beyond. Set well back again, the extension has a sense of personhood about it. Kristen and Paul approached the architect, Philip Stejskal, for this alterations and additions venture on a complicated internet site many yrs ago. They have considering that grow to be a spouse and children of four, bringing the whirlwind of two young youngsters into the tale and existence of the job.
The North Fremantle internet site slopes very steeply toward its rear and the Swan River further than, and its north part is constrained by the current cottage. It is surrounded by quite a few established neighbourhood trees and even though the river by itself is not visible, the amphitheatre of East Fremantle on the opposite embankment can be found from an elevated vantage. These situations are the cues for the architecture, along with the motivation to both generate privacy for the family members and foster a relationship with the road and the area neighborhood.
The cottage was created in the 1920s and is shielded by heritage codes. It was a tiny worker’s home with only two rooms, which have been restored and now dwelling the children’s bedrooms, and a rear lean-to, which has been eliminated to develop continuity with the extension. The primary layout functions are the creation of a central courtyard, which brings the existence of light and air (and a pink crepe myrtle tree) into the encompassing rooms, and the staggering of the household in area, which generates a perception of movement, variation and spatial separation without the need of visible interruption.
On the decrease ground floor, a lounge opens on to the garden.
Image:
Bo Wong
There is considerably to occupy the eyes and the arms about the architecture: adjustments in substance, intricate information and tactile surfaces. Multi-coloured brick references the community limestone geology, with mortar applied in a historic fashion: very pleased of the joints and loosely pressed. The decrease ground has an exposed concrete soffit and rammed concrete partitions. There is crimped zinc forming the roof and housing the skylights, and blackbutt ply and waxed moderate steel internally. When several, there is a logic in the purpose and distribution of these materials: concrete grounds the household and presents excess weight to its foundation, brick wraps it, zinc relates it to roof and sky, and timber and metal kind the joinery and relate to the entire body-scale of the task. To go through it, then, you are in the earthed portion of the dwelling, or the sky-and-yard dwelling where much of the everyday activity happens, or in the darker, extra intimate spaces – the lounge, research and bedrooms.
Balustrades mark the amount adjustments in the property, nevertheless allow views among floors.
Graphic:
Bo Wong
“Through,” “past” and “between” are critical performances listed here, no matter if in the curation of folks, light-weight, air or view. The mass of the new higher stage is established back from the aspect boundary so that mild washes down the retaining wall towards the excavated basement. A tiny sitting nook peeps out at the front of the addition, previous the primary cottage, to demonstrate its encounter (and hat) to the avenue. The kitchen area gazes as a result of the nook’s window. The wall concerning the linear kitchen area and exterior edits the outlook from inside: bench level and spotlight home windows glance at foliage and sky respectively, though the neighbouring household is screened from perspective. Over and above this, a brick wall traces the boundary as a result of which, sweetly, Kristen and her neighbour have created a tailor made of exchanging baked delights, herbs and discussion. The kids’ rooms at the front are linked to the kitchen area by a in between-space, a stepped enjoy spot. We look via the courtyard from just one place to an additional. We glimpse by way of spotlight windows to tree cover and sky. Staircases are applied to suggest division involving areas, but their stringers and balustrades are created from metal rods to preserve them visually permeable. There is a seriality to the residence visually and in terms of passage, and this is mainly afforded by the sectional composition of the method.
There are some distinct punctuations and stopping factors to this seriality. The outer wall of the courtyard incorporates a niched day bed and outdoor fireside, the brick chimney of which stretches proper up to be expressed as what Philip calls a “folly.” This slender, towering framework supports a roof terrace, accessed by an exterior stair, with another open up-air seating place outlined by timber portal-frames. From in this article, the sights of the surroundings – and again into the household by means of the courtroom – are pretty, and a feeling of getting in the neighbourhood is coupled with just one of retreat. The main bedroom culminates in a southwest corner window that requires in several trees, the house’s have garden with a youthful Bauhinia that will develop up sinuous and flowered, and the deeper view to the topography and residences of East Fremantle, further than the river. These entire-stops in the architecture feel tranquil and secluded, but also hook up the property and its dwellers to the planet further than.