OOF! architecture's renovated gantry house shows playful orange structure

the renovated gantry house

with its playfully-designed gantry house, australian studio OOF! architecture completes a major overhaul of a ‘sweet weatherboard cottage.’ the pre-existing house, typical of the suburban context of newport, has been transformed into an indoor-outdoor combination of dwelling, warehouse, and workshop for a family. while maintaining its modest cottage appearance from the perspective of the street, the renovated gantry house expands into its backyard with airy, sunny, open trussed living spaces to stand as a robust and comfortable home which, as the team notes, is ‘just like its family.’

images © tatjana plitt | @tatjanaplitt

a residence for a builder

OOF! architecture’s gantry house is designed for a family of five, and their dogs. they needed to expand their quaint, but cramped, weatherboard cottage to accommodate a growing family and contemporary lifestyles. because one of the clients is a builder, the architects were given a considerable flexibility to reconsider and develop many ideas and details on site during the project’s construction, ‘which was a blessing and a curse!‘ notes the design team. the architects continue: ‘a builder’s own house is the last project in line after all other clients’ projects. as a result, work happened in fits and starts over a long construction period of 2+ years.’

oof! architecture’s attention to detail

while the shared activities of the gantry house are left open to each other, OOF! architecture integrates screening so family members can have their own spaces. for instance, a split level organization maintains one continuous main space with the stairs and the first floor ‘gantry’ accessway in the trusses over the living areas. meanwhile, the construction of the house itself provides enjoyment through its exposed structure and fixtures, raw materials, and other construction details. these elements express the skills of all those who built it, including the family themselves.

the renovation combines dwelling, warehouse, and workshop programming
the split level organization opens up the modest house