Louisa Street Residence: Stage 1 “The Courtyard”
This private residence nestled in South Fremantle is full of surprises. From its austere frontage celebrating the weather board heritage cottage, to its modern and open rear extension, this project is a tale of two eras.
Heritage at the front, party at the back. With a touch of Freo vibe.
Client: Private
Location: South Fremantle, Western Australia
Size: 110m2 addition + renovation
Architect: Tim Pardoe
Photography: Ricky Gestro
Interior Design: Jane Agnew
Builder: Peter Bell Constructions
Structural Engineer: Burdett + Goodison
Hidden from view.
Nestled along a quiet side street in South Fremantle, the scope of the project remains largely concealed.
Whilst the heritage cottage has been completely restored, painted and re-roofed, the scale of the extension to the rear of the property remains a little bit of secret.
Heritage meets modern.
Restored heritage, multilevel gardens, floating timber boxes and blurred lines between inside/outside, the Louisa street residence is a home of new and old.
Secret Garden.
Due to the relative small size of the site (380m2), we wanted to utilize as much space as we could. By activating the roof above the new kitchen link, a private 1st floor garden terrace was created with a north and eastern aspect. A flourishing roof garden makes this a welcome retreat.
Courtyard of light.
By retaining the existing olive tree and forming an internal courtyard around it, the spatial qualities of all attached rooms is increased and improved. Natural light floods the kitchen area in the morning, whilst plenty of shade provides relief during the hottest part of the day.
Reclaimed bricks from the old storage shed and outhouse are reused as pavers for the courtyard.
Collaboration and Team.
Having a team of specialists makes a huge difference.
Our builder Peter Bell brought quality, an eye for detail and craftsmanship to the build.
Involved from early doors, structural engineer Darren Goodison understood our vision and made it so.
Mid project we engaged Jane Agnew to help develop the Interior design concept. Her taste and vision complimented the Architecture beautifully, instilling a sophistication to the finishes.
Without Peter, Darren and Jane, this project would not be what it is.
Importance of materials.
A simple palette of white and black, concrete and warm timber (inspired by the jarrah floorboards) ties together all areas of the house.
The craftsmanship of these worked details highlights the care Peter Bell and his team have taken to construct and restore this family home.
This project started small.
What began as a bathroom extension, turned into a house renovation, then a full hertiage extension.
Following several design explorations, we found our direction.
A clear contrast between old and new and a client who was willing to be brave and challenge the residential codes to create something special.
This project continues to grow…. Stage 2 is now under construction
