If you’re looking for a little “wow” with your architecture, look no further – the Taringa House designed by Australian firm Loucas Zahos Architects created a contemporary addition that transforms this humble, existing cottage with a modern glass volume open to nature. The house sits on a steep slope of an inner west suburb of Brisbane, with its original structure fronting the street and the modern glazed addition cascading down the hillside and toward a creek at the rear of the property. The house is a lesson in opposites: historic and contemporary, front and back, public and private, visitor and family. Here’s the tour.
This house offers a beautiful balance between the old and new wings. These two volumes are kept separate in terms of space, style and use.
Originally a four-room worker’s cottage, the historic house is a lesson in artful opposites, blending its previous details with an ultra modern, industrial chic, squared extension clad in glass and steel plates which are dotted with bolts holding them together.
The house maintains its intimate “family neighborhood” look and feel, with the original cottage structure fronting the street. This space is designated as the main entrance area into the home, also housing the guest room and bathroom. But from street view, you’d never anticipate what awaits you behind the front door.
Stretching out behind the original cottage, the glazed volume is occupied by the home’s principal family living areas – the kitchen, living and dining room, and bedrooms. Open, bright and airy, the new addition is certainly a breath of fresh air.
While the front of the house is closed off for privacy’s sake, the rear was designed to celebrate nature, making the most of the views with its glass walls and open air patio and lounging hotspot overlooking the sloping lawn and garden.
The sheltered alfresco dining area makes for a delish entertaining space in all weather, where the sunshine and cool breeze waft in and out freely.
Interiors are separated from the outdoors by a folding glass wall, stretching up two stories up to the roof. The home’s industrial edge continues indoors with concrete block walls and a continuous tile floor flowing in from the patio. Just on the inside of the glass, the double height living areas enjoy plenty of natural light and lush, green views.
Overlooking the kitchen and the patio beyond it, an upper level library is tucked in a glass loft – a perfect reading nook flooded with natural light from every angle. Thanks to the home’s position on a steep slope, there is a walkout to the hillside from this upper level.
The bathroom is a chic, spa inspired space with marble floors and walls, and a glass wall separating it without compromising the natural light or views.
Floor plans:
Cross section:
Loucas Zahos Architects
via Arch Daily
photo credit: Christopher Frederick Jones
