Balancing Contrast – Silver Lining by Architecture architecture

Countering the original features of the existing weatherboard bungalow, Silver Lining emerges as a lighter and brighter home that seamlessly connects to the adjacent laneway and surrounding greenery. By reorienting the main house, Architecture architecture ensures that new spaces are established, northern light floods the interiors and nearby parklands are addressed.

Positioned away from the street, an existing weatherboard dwelling sits quaintly, reminiscent of its past. At approximately 70 square metres, the contained form features clearly defined zones within a lightweight form. Through expanding the original floor plan, integrating a sense of openness and allowing northern light to permeate the interior spaces, the architect ushers the home into a more contemporary context. Architecture architecture engages the surrounding landscape to lessen a reliance on external energy sources, therefore increasing the performance and functionality of the bungalow as a result.

Through expanding the original floor plan, integrating a sense of openness and allowing northern light to permeate the interior spaces, the architect ushers the home into a more contemporary context.

After demolishing previous extensions made to the home over the years, the house was brought back to its original state, allowing for any further additions to be naturally highlighted. Three bedrooms, two bathrooms and a separate lounge space are included in the main residence, allowing the addition to house an open plan living, dining and kitchen area that connects to the natural surrounds. An additional studio also provides the extra space to work or live, making better use of the contained site.

Appearing like a shiny rain cloud, silver external cladding on the additions provides a literal silver lining – a metaphor for identifying the good in any given situation. A mostly neutral palette is inspired by the simplicity of the original home, with soft, light tones increasing its sense of scale. Timber flooring and joinery flows throughout, connecting old and new and evoking familiarity and warmth within. Outdoor terraces also integrate seamlessly with the existing landscape, allowing internal activities to flow over into the outdoors, as the weather permits.

Appearing like a shiny rain cloud, silver external cladding on the additions provides a literal silver lining – a metaphor for identifying the good in any given situation.

“We really like the way the house addresses its context, integrating with its setting and drawing the parkland into the private realms of the house and garden,” says Michael Roper, Director of Architecture architecture. Silver Lining is comprised of a crisp addition that responds to its urban context sensitively and features new materiality that blends with both natural and traditional elements.