Shaping a Legacy – Glebe Castle by KLK Architecture

Continuing the legacy left by the stonemason who built the original structure, Glebe Castle is overlayed with vibrant colour and playful elements to mould it into a robust and expressive family home. KLK Architecture combines the more raw and textural elements on site with a cleanly articulated series of spaces that encourage connection and exploration.

Having been on its sloping site for many years, the stone form sat reminiscent of a castle replica of sorts, which informed the current namesake. Previously owned by a stonemason, the resulting building sees the rewards of their labour, experimenting with a love of the weighted materiality amongst the established landscape surrounds. Complete with typical watchtower detailing along the roofline above, the form sat linear and tall, accessed from the upper most level and stretching down across two lower levels below. In replacing an existing addition to the site and the weighted form, KLK Architecture combines access between the integral elements of the original funnelled into a more contemporary form, ensuring a comfortable liveability.

Spreading across the levels vertically, a helical stair sits expressive in colour while also being sculpturally placed within the centre, connecting the levels through a significant core.

Offering an unexpected contrast, bright and saturated colour is used to encase the interior, matching the activity of the family that lives within. Both as a balance to the more earthy tones of the original stone form and to brighten the spaces, the palette is deliberately its own highlight. Spreading across the levels vertically, a helical stair sits expressive in colour while also being sculpturally placed within the centre, connecting the levels through a significant core. The narrow yet vertical form is a challenge for the typical residential condition, both in the planning and size available for internal rooms but also in the movement between spaces and levels.

Built by Newmark Constructions, together with joinery with Interex Custom Joinery, the differences between the older patina of the stone and the sleek metal sheeting allows both to be celebrated in their own ways. Playing with height, scale, finish and form, the coming-together of old and new and such traditionally opposing elements ensures the legacy of the original form continues. What was a considered an unusual addition into a residential context has been transformed into a comfortable insertion in place.

Playing with height, scale, finish and form, the coming-together of old and new and such traditionally opposing elements ensures the legacy of the original form continues.

As its own modern interpretation of a forgotten vernacular, Glebe Castle combines novelty and practicality to ensure an ingrained relevance as a home. KLK Architecture ensures the unique personal expressions of the past owners remain, while a contemporary uniqueness takes hold in its place.