Sympathetic Reworking – Cummings House by Arcke

Through a respectful preservation of the existing legacy of the home, Cummings House draws on the modernist principles in place to propose an aptly fitting addition. Arcke combines restraint and a sensitive lens to ensure the new sits comfortably amongst the existing, adding in both amenity and richness of crafted elements.

Located in the Brisbane suburb of Alderley, Cummings House is named after its original architect, Robert Cummings, as his own family home. Having been designed and built in 1936, the home stands as a fully realised testament to his design thinking and values of the time. Known for bringing modernism to Queensland, ensuring his legacy was preserved was key and that any new elements needed to respectfully sit within his original intent. An architect’s own home can be an opportunity to explore ideas that working with a client simply cannot, making the story of this home even more important. Arcke carefully establishes a framework that sits within the existing ideas of the home, ensuring the resulting spaces act as an evolution of their origins in their own way.

Using the base of an existing rear deck as the foundational footprint from which the new form is contained, the addition aims to leave a lightweight legacy.

Using the base of an existing rear deck as the foundational footprint from which the new form is contained, the addition aims to leave a lightweight legacy. Seemingly floating above the open living, dining and kitchen space, the newly introduced roof form sits separated from the bounding walls by a glass band. Allowing indirect light in from the upper level and allowing heat to escape, the surrounding clerestory ensures the original form of the home feels untouched. There is a simplicity at play that ensures the old and new feel complementary and that they don’t compete in any way. The new works add to the previous floor area where the beginnings of open planned living were already intertwined into the planning of the time and further enhance the conversation about connected family living.

Cummings House retains the existing streetscape frontage with new works concealed behind its silhouette to the rear. The living elements act as an extension of the home and generous glazing allows the surrounding natural elements to feel a key part of the interior experience. Bringing together lessons in passive and sustainable design, the home feels naturally comfortable and continues the story of the home. The materiality flows effortlessly throughout, with similar toned timber elements balanced by painted white walls and ceilings as the base.

Bringing together lessons in passive and sustainable design, the home feels naturally comfortable and continues the story of the home.

Extending its aptness as a connected and open family home, Arcke’s Cummings House pays homage to its original design by Robert Cummings.