adam kane architects completes trentham brick house in australia

melbourne-based studio adam kane architects restores an 1890’s weatherboard house with a concrete and masonry extension in the regional town of trentham, australia. the original residence comprised of small windows, dark living areas and rear lean-to structures (laundry-bathroom) which blocked natural lighting into the house and access to the nearby garden.

side view of additions – junction between old and new
all images © adam kane

the additional layer of the trentham brick house is designed by adam kane architects to contrast the architectural typology of the weatherboard home, whilst maximizing natural light to the proposed living areas. the pavilion-like extension is composed of several solid and glazed vertical planes, sandwiched between floor and roof surfaces, with spaces oriented towards the garden and away from neighbours. in fact, it was important to create a sense of permanency and solidity to highlight the materiality of the added structure. furthermore, the use of a neutral color palette enhances the visual impact of the surrounding european garden without competing against the existing pale blue finish of the weatherboard home.

rear façade oriented towards garden views, maximizing sunlight to living areas

custom-made concrete bricks (400 x40 mm) of both longer and thinner proportions than traditional sizing are implemented in this project, as it emphasizes an elongated finesse. also, these slender proportions contribute to the horizontality of the extension’s architecture, whilst referencing the adjoining weatherboards of the existing home. the bricks, laid in a random set-out, were washed with a slurry of white mortar to soften their appearance. the interior material palette is kept to a minimum and acts as a stark contrast between old and new. the concrete floor, while durable and subdued, provides much needed thermal mass and reinforces clear delineation. additionally, a line of sight was created down the building’s spine — from the existing front door to the rear garden with in-situ concrete steps that enhance the pavilion’s aesthetic and custom steel handrails fabricated as a softer additive.

sunlight enters and warms the space in winter, but blocking it in summer

internal steps between old and new, showing the custom designed and fabricated steel handrail

existing front façade of the 1890’s victorian weatherboard home

ground floor plan

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edited by: lea zeitoun | designboom