A Crafted Curiosity – Hendra House by Lineburg Wang

As a series of experiments, Hendra House sees the extension of an existing Queensland home to create meaningful moments of engagement and interaction with both its site and its surrounding landscape. Lineburg Wang combines a curiosity with craft to create a warm and highly articulated next chapter for this home.

Built by its owner, Hendra House is a true return to origins and unfolds as a series of experiments across its slight site. Located in its namesake suburb, Hendra House navigates its existing site and vernacular of rudimental shapes, reinterpreting the new as an extension of the old. The original home takes shape as a barn formation with stable structures to the rear, making references to the common architectural design language of the suburban area it is located in. In response, the proposed offers a respectful lineage from the existing crafted and handmade past of the area and injects a more modern interpretation. Lineburg Wang combines warmth through the extensive use of timber and creates a series of meaningful connections to the landscape and the site proper, through curated openings and engagements beyond the built envelope.

Sitting fittingly alongside the existing timber and brick elements of the home, the proposed opens to the high peaks of its tent-like structure, while pop-out windows and skylights offer a connection to the natural.

The limits of the extension focus on the courtyard to its bounding edges and see the outdoor space as its own conceived destination. Known usually as an ancillary outdoor supporting area, the purpose was to create a dedicated space of connection and contemplation, accessed from multiple approaches. Utilising recycled materials and select newer elements, the frame itself is expressed as per the original home’s structure, allowing a celebration of the supporting elements in lieu of concealing them. Timber battens create a series of screens that filter light inward while also providing protection and privacy and contributing to the internal comfort by way of access to natural ventilation.

Sitting fittingly alongside the existing timber and brick elements of the home, the proposed opens to the high peaks of its tent-like structure, while pop-out windows and skylights offer a connection to the natural. Small gestures introduce refined elements of brass and interesting intersections of form, and cantilevered platforms sit hovering above a pond below. Window openings are introduced to elongate spaces, stretching previously contained rooms as a play on form and mass volume.

Timber battens create a series of screens that filter light inward while also providing protection and privacy and contributing to the internal comfort by way of access to natural ventilation.

As an interplay with lofted heights, openings, access to natural light and other landscaped elements, Hendra House brings together many gestures with a cohesive ease. Lineburg Wang has celebrated the beauty in crafting details and celebrated them through scale, welcomingly connecting spaces to their comprising structure and parts.