Connected Living – Gable Park by Weaver+Co Architects

This year’s Residential Architecture winner of The (Emerging) Designer Awards presented by Artedomus and The Local Project, Gable Park by Weaver+Co Architects explores the boundary between public and private spaces in a family residence in Yarraville, that fosters neighbourhood connection while preserving privacy. This renovation beautifully transforms a traditional weatherboard bungalow into a modern dwelling for a family of five.

Following a brief for a new home that celebrated its natural setting and proximity to the park, Weaver+Co Architects removed the dilapidated bungalow occupying the site. Drawing inspiration from the context of the neighbourhood, materials and architectural elements, Weaver+Co Architects crafted a design that harmonised with its surroundings. Additionally, to cater to the family’s needs, the architect has created a two-storey dwelling that seamlessly integrates with neighbouring homes.

Drawing inspiration from the context of the neighbourhood, materials and architectural elements, Weaver+Co Architects crafted a design that harmonised with its surroundings.

From the ground floor of Gable Park, Weaver+Co Architects strategically positions the living areas around a garden courtyard facing north, which opens up to the park beyond. Deep joinery ‘walls’ are also used to integrate valuable storage space while maintaining a sleek design that enhances the connection between indoor and outdoor spaces. Throughout the home, Weaver+Co Architects embraces concepts of compression and expansion to highlight the internal spaces. On the upper floor, the bedrooms and bathrooms offer expansive views of the street while ensuring privacy through their placement within a screened gable roof form. Emphasising the balance between openness to the street and park and maintaining privacy, Weaver+Co Architects incorporates sliding screens, controlled floor heights and curated gardens.

During the design process, the architect embraced a collaborative approach involving the client, builder and consultants to turn the owners’ vision into a reality. Furthermore, Ben Scott Garden Design, who led the initial landscape design concept, collaborated with the client and builder in planning the front garden, driveway and central courtyard garden. In selecting materials for the home, Weaver+Co Architects specifies responsibly, opting for cost-effective white plasterboard and Victorian ash timber sourced from regrowth forests. Additionally, locally made bricks add a grounded quality to the home while balancing with the more intricate elements, such as the expressed gutters and downpipes on the exterior.

Throughout the home, Weaver+Co Architects embraces concepts of compression and expansion to highlight the internal spaces.

Achieving a 7.7-star NatHERS energy rating, the home features underslab insulation, verandahs and overhangs for shading. Utilising 140-millimetre studs also enhances wall insulation and helps with deep reveals. On the ground floor, large lift and slide timber window systems were installed to contribute to Gable Park’s energy efficiency. Throughout the entire renovation and construction process, Weaver+Co Architects focused on space, light and integrating connections to both people and the surrounding environment.