Park House
by Tenfiftyfive
Park House by Melbourne based design studio Tenfiftyfive is a residential architecture and interior design project located in the Victorian suburb of Malvern East.
The site of this project is dominated by two large lemon scented gum trees to the east which grow in a garden bed that defines the entrance to the property in Malvern East. There are additional large pine trees to the south of the site which also tower above the buildings and provide a natural buffer to the house.
The team at Tenfiftyfive added an extension to the rear of the existing Californian bungalow that was protected by local heritage controls. The new works connect to the back of the main tiled roof of the old house.
The entire architectural design revolves around the stunningly Australian lemon scented gum trees. Three children’s bedrooms with large box windows are pointed directly towards them. The entirety of the ground floor living spaces open directly towards the beautiful old trees and a pool has been added that allows occupants to swim under the shade of the trees. These gums, the shadows they cast and the light they reflect inform the whole design process.
Concrete, steel, timber and brick are the dominant material of the Park House. Concrete and brick were selected for their durability and their innate ability to store energy and regulate the temperature of the building. Timber was selected to insulate the upper floor and reflect the dominant gum trees to the east. Steel was used for its overall strength and lightness.
The entire first floor of the building hovers above the ground floor in the form of a timber box complete with high timber ceilings and black steel box windows.
The timber ceiling exists as a permanent formwork for the concrete slab that is suspended above. This slab allows the house to be heated using in slab hydronic heating, provides a massive bank of thermal mass to regulate the first floor temperature and also provides a much needed sound barrier between the living spaces and children’s bedrooms below.
All heating is provided by in slab hydronic heating that is operated by a heat pump which in turn is powered by solar panels that produce sustainable electricity on the first floor roof. The only cooling is by fans or on really hot days the heat pump can be reversed to pump chilled water through the hydronic heating pipes in the slabs. For sustainability purposes Tenfiftyfive made a conscious decision to not incorporate air conditioning into their design.
Another key feature of the Park House is the use of recycled materials. Bricks were salvaged from old paving and used for the creation of new walls. Oregon rafters were saved and used to create the timber grain in the feature concrete walls which hold up the suspended first floor above.
All the feature ceiling beams and lining are recycled blackbutt, as are the timber elements in the bathrooms, TV cabinet, kitchen window and BBQ area.
The Park House by Tenfiftyfive is a sustainable property that has incorporated the uniqueness of the natural Australian environment into the beauty of its architectural design.
To view more Tenfiftyfive Inspired Architecture and Interior Design Archives head to their TLP Designer Profile.
Keep up to date with The Local Project’s latest interviews, project overviews, collections releases and more – view our TLP Articles & News.
Explore more design, interior & architecture archives in our TLP Archives Gallery.
Park House by Melbourne based design studio Tenfiftyfive is a residential architecture and interior design project located in the Victorian suburb of Malvern East.
The site of this project is dominated by two large lemon scented gum trees to the east which grow in a garden bed that defines the entrance to the property in Malvern East. There are additional large pine trees to the south of the site which also tower above the buildings and provide a natural buffer to the house.
The team at Tenfiftyfive added an extension to the rear of the existing Californian bungalow that was protected by local heritage controls. The new works connect to the back of the main tiled roof of the old house.
The entire architectural design revolves around the stunningly Australian lemon scented gum trees. Three children’s bedrooms with large box windows are pointed directly towards them. The entirety of the ground floor living spaces open directly towards the beautiful old trees and a pool has been added that allows occupants to swim under the shade of the trees. These gums, the shadows they cast and the light they reflect inform the whole design process.
Concrete, steel, timber and brick are the dominant material of the Park House. Concrete and brick were selected for their durability and their innate ability to store energy and regulate the temperature of the building. Timber was selected to insulate the upper floor and reflect the dominant gum trees to the east. Steel was used for its overall strength and lightness.
The entire first floor of the building hovers above the ground floor in the form of a timber box complete with high timber ceilings and black steel box windows.
The timber ceiling exists as a permanent formwork for the concrete slab that is suspended above. This slab allows the house to be heated using in slab hydronic heating, provides a massive bank of thermal mass to regulate the first floor temperature and also provides a much needed sound barrier between the living spaces and children’s bedrooms below.
All heating is provided by in slab hydronic heating that is operated by a heat pump which in turn is powered by solar panels that produce sustainable electricity on the first floor roof. The only cooling is by fans or on really hot days the heat pump can be reversed to pump chilled water through the hydronic heating pipes in the slabs. For sustainability purposes Tenfiftyfive made a conscious decision to not incorporate air conditioning into their design.
Another key feature of the Park House is the use of recycled materials. Bricks were salvaged from old paving and used for the creation of new walls. Oregon rafters were saved and used to create the timber grain in the feature concrete walls which hold up the suspended first floor above.
All the feature ceiling beams and lining are recycled blackbutt, as are the timber elements in the bathrooms, TV cabinet, kitchen window and BBQ area.
The Park House by Tenfiftyfive is a sustainable property that has incorporated the uniqueness of the natural Australian environment into the beauty of its architectural design.
To view more Tenfiftyfive Inspired Architecture and Interior Design Archives head to their TLP Designer Profile.
Keep up to date with The Local Project’s latest interviews, project overviews, collections releases and more – view our TLP Articles & News.
Explore more design, interior & architecture archives in our TLP Archives Gallery.