Celebrating and Counterbalancing – Clinker Brick House by Studio Bright

Celebrating its clinker-brick construction, the embodied warmth and depth of the home’s existing texture is expressed in the resulting expansion to Clinker Brick House. Studio Bright utilises an efficient approach to revitalise planning and introduces curved elements as a counterbalance to the existing.

Embedded into suburban Mentone, Clinker Brick House embraces its past and unique construction and reinterprets a similar veined warmth and curiosity through the newly conjured elements. As an extension to a previous home, the brief was to expand the current floor plate to allow for a contemporary gathering space and additional bedrooms. Through a rigorous process and deep contemplation of the potential of the site, a middle ground approach was agreed upon allowing for an expansion internally and injecting flexible spaces that allow for increased amenity, while still allowing for the retention of a large portion of the landscaped garden space. The creation of key connections between inside and out allow for intimate and calm moments and an appreciation beyond the built envelope. Studio Bright combines an understanding of space planning with the creation of a unique and individual approach to the contemporary home in creating their response.

The creation of key connections between inside and out allow for intimate and calm moments and an appreciation beyond the built envelope.

As a comment to the ever-evolving residential landscape, it was integral to maintain the existing home and preserve its contribution to the urban fabric of the area. Not only does it preserve an element of history, it is a nod to a materiality, construction method and form-making of another time. The new works then suitably occur to the rear, deliberately out of sight from the street. Built by CBD Contracting Group, Clinker Brick House utilises a dark palette of bold elements and textural variance. The extended works called for a series of contemplative spaces that bridge the built and the natural. In contrast to the existing home, the newly introduced elements take on a more curved approach, offering a sense of relief from the home’s original formality and rhythm. The interception of curves also allows for nuanced zones to be created without the need for a fully enclosed space within walls.

Through a sustainable lens, it was imperative that only what was required was added to the site, while preserving the pre-existing elements to ensure a minimal impact with regard to building material waste. In terms of planning, orientation and key openings allow for natural cross ventilation and desired solar gains, naturally creating a comfortable internal environment without relying on active cooling and heating. The use of concrete flooring and brick walls also intentionally adds depth to maximise on thermal mass, with the select materiality also utilised for its robust nature, ensuring it could withstand the wear of its family life over time.

The extended works called for a series of contemplative spaces that bridge the built and the natural.

As the resulting extension burrows deeper into its site, the additional elements are a nod to an appreciation of the site itself and act as a declaration of permanence. Clinker Brick House beautifully extends its original intent with purpose and, with clear considered rigour, Studio Bright has created the ideal foundations for the many years to come.

As the resulting extension burrows deeper into its site, the additional elements are a nod to an appreciation of the site itself and act as a declaration of permanence.