PROJECT OVERVIEW
Location: Kenthurst NSW
Project Type: Acreage Home Alterations & Additions
Council: The Hills Shire Council
Approval: DA Approved
A major transformation of an existing Kenthurst acreage home. The bushfire-prone site also required parts of the additions to meet BAL-40 and BAL-FZ construction requirements.
PROJECT GALLERY
THE BRIEF
The owners wanted to substantially improve and enlarge their existing acreage home while retaining the parts of the original residence that still worked well. The brief included additional bedroom accommodation, larger and more connected living spaces, a more defined front entrance and better integration between the home, existing swimming pool and outdoor entertaining areas.
THE DESIGN RESPONSE
The existing floor plan was reorganised and extended to create a more functional layout with clearer separation between living and bedroom areas. A new bedroom wing increased the accommodation, while the main living areas were opened up to provide larger interconnected spaces. At the front, a new portico created a stronger entrance and helped bring the existing and new sections of the residence together. The rear of the home was extended with a large gabled alfresco positioned alongside the existing swimming pool, creating a substantial covered outdoor living area directly connected to the internal living spaces. The property is also bushfire prone. Different parts of the additions were required to respond to BAL-40 and BAL-FZ, influencing the construction, detailing and material requirements of the design.
PROJECT OUTCOME
Ashwood House demonstrates how a substantial alteration and addition can transform an established acreage home without the need for a complete knockdown rebuild. The redesigned home provides additional accommodation, larger living areas, a stronger front entry and a much better relationship between the internal spaces, alfresco, swimming pool and surrounding acreage. The project also demonstrates the integration of significant BAL-40 and BAL-FZ bushfire requirements into a major residential renovation.
The before and after photographs show the extent of the transformation to both the front and rear of the original residence. The existing home was substantially expanded and reorganised, with the new front portico, bedroom wing and rear alfresco changing both its appearance and the way the home functions. The before and after floor plans further show how the existing residence was retained while substantial new accommodation and living areas were incorporated.