Discreetly Opened – Pitch House by FMD Architects
Pitch House extends outward and upward in the pursuit of light and an expanded sense of scale. FMD Architects focuses on incorporating an overall openness, bringing natural luminance to the home and embedding a sense of retreat and calm.
Pitch House is a distinct structure, diverging from the typical rhythm of its streetscape. By an extension of the previous form and a lifting of the roofline, extra natural light is introduced into the home’s interior through new ceiling-height glazed windows. Whilst the additional form by FMD Architects opens generously to the rear landscape space, the newly formed garden becomes a key extension of the home.
The new elements sit harmoniously among the new garden setting, encouraging residents into the outdoor spaces. Free-flowing movement between inside and out becomes intuitive through the continuation of the flooring between the two spaces, extending across the threshold of the building’s edge and out into the immediate outdoor entertaining space. The opening of the rear volume ensures the interior becomes naturally ventilated and provides access to solar gains throughout the year.
The changing of materiality marks the transition between old and new. Whilst the original home retains its ornateness and historical connection, the new addition exhibits a clean, linear approach. The richness of the material palette ensures a cohesive narrative across the home’s chapters. Whilst concrete and shiplap shape the volume, textural timber conveys the pitched silhouette internally and softens the interior, introducing warmth and fostering a environmental connection.
