Natural Connection – Elwood by Agius Scorpo Architects

Focusing on light, Elwood is the extension of an existing Californian bungalow to accommodate a contemporary occupation, where a zoned approach allows the owners to live both independently and connected. Agius Scorpo Architects creates an alignment with the surrounding natural elements to both reinforce links between inside and out and within the home.

Located in its namesake to the south-east of Melbourne CBD, the scale of the existing site presented several challenges, guiding the possibilities of extending the original home. Adding further complexity was the heritage overlay restricting the height of any addition to the rear. In tucking the two-level volume behind the original silhouette, a gabled form emerges and allows the sloping walls of the upper floor to echo the existing lines of the original bungalow home. Needing to expand beyond the formally separated rooms of the existing structure, the family wanted to engage more with the landscape and create an open and connected living zone, with dedicated areas for the children.

Emphasising the natural connection, openings are marked by timber framework, defining the threshold to the outdoors, while also encouraging movement.

Agius Scorpo Architects proposes a wrapping form that pushes the lower level up against the boundary edge, while opening to a shared courtyard space to the north. The optimisation of the northern aspect is then amplified by the additional circumference of the new form, creating multiple opportunities for natural light to fill the home. While the traditional approach would see the living, dining and kitchen space all convene into the one volume, in wanting to maximise the access to light and ventilation, the courtyard arrangement creates a more zoned approach, with the key living, dining and kitchen all within visual access of one another. In anticipating the changing needs of the family, the ability to break away into other areas while still feeling connected under the same roof is ideal.

The newly formed upper level sees the bedroom, study and associated bathroom added for the children, grouping functionality and the more passive areas away from the open living space. Occupying the gabled form, the height moulds to the form of the original roof to the front of the site. Emphasising the natural connection, openings are marked by timber framework, defining the threshold to the outdoors, while also encouraging movement. A similar warmth is used internally, together with a more muted base of painted white walls, green terrazzo, timber and carpet flooring – the familiar nods to a contemporary home bind the old and new.

In tucking the two-level volume behind the original silhouette, a gabled form emerges and allows the sloping walls of the upper floor to echo the existing lines of the original bungalow home.

Elwood welcomes a newfound openness across the limited site by focusing sightlines and access to the natural elements through the courtyard insertion. Agius Scorpo Architects tempers an equally light interior space that is intended to age gracefully.