Layered Sculpting – Coburg Freeboard House by WALA

Expanding an original Federation bungalow, Coburg Freeboard House sees flowing and stepped transitions across terraces result in a holistic engagement with the site. WALA transforms the challenge of navigating an otherwise troublesome terrain into a playful response, using considered level changes to sculpt the rear landscape.

Set in a residential area of Melbourne’s north, Coburg Freeboard House arises from the restoration of an existing weatherboard cottage home as it connects over multiple levels to its expansive residential site. The original home was in need of repair, and the resulting addition adds both amenity and a clearly conceived connection to the site and the landscape. Through a number of stepped gestures, the garden space is activated as a deliberate extension of the home. WALA utilises natural materials with crisp metal sheeting to define the new space and connect through a similar linear cladding pattern to the original.

Through a number of stepped gestures, the garden space is activated as a deliberate extension of the home.

Purchased with the intent of renovating and expanding the existing footprint, Coburg Freeboard House is owner-built together with Green X Home. As the site is within a flood-prone area, the rear volume needed to be elevated, and this created an opportunity of journey down from the finished floor level, into the natural grade and garden space. Zoning also drove the spatial planning and connections on site, with a heavy focus on the landscape throughout. While the original home is restored and repaired, lush living elements are added both as punctuated features through internal courtyards, and the shared yard as the final destination.

The Federation-style bungalow stylings are maintained, and through a cohesive approach to materiality, the old and new are brought together. The application of subtle finishes and a muted palette ensure there is a deliberate flow throughout, with added courtyard spaces bringing light and a reminder of the natural deep into the home. Internally, the stepping up of the new, although a requirement to address potential flooding conditions, has been turned into an advantage and instead creates zones. While the shared living space remains open, the articulation of the floor plane as it traverses downward adds interest as the built form connects with the landscape.

Zoning also drove the spatial planning and intended relationships and connections on site, with a heavy focus on the landscape throughout.

Coburg Freeboard House opens up the previous and formally arranged home in an open embrace of the landscape. WALA has used terraces and level changes to create a site-specific design respons.