Best Foot Forward

Built from the bones of an existing 1950s ex-govie, this project boosts amenity with a light-handed touch.

A complete rework of the Canberra home’s internal functions provides contemporary and pragmatic layouts featuring carefully intersecting spaces. Emerging from a grounded scale amongst surrounding vegetation, the new architectural form responds to its challenged siting, rising upwards and over the existing home where high windows capture perfectly orientated northern light.

Location

Lyneham ACT

Builder

Independent Building Solutions

Photography

Ben King Photography

Joiner

Infinity Kitchens & Joinery + Adam Dossetor

Awards

Winner 2023 ACT AIA Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) Award

Winner 2023 ACT AIA EmAGN Project Award

Commendation 2023 ACT AIA Sustainable Architecture

Dark-clad addition rising above the existing home

Bike storage and limited car parking responds to the client’s desire to reduce their carbon footprint and encourages engagement with their surrounding community.

Continuous joinery shelving with vibrant orange window reveal.
Living area with built-in storage
Kitchen with island bench, timber flooring, white joinery with timber accents and a green tile splash back.

Passive design principles and considered details elevate thermal performance and overall comfort levels for all seasons.

Before / After

Before: floor plan of the original 1950s Lyneham home Before
After: floor plan of the reworked Lyneham home and new addition After
Living room with timber flooring, generous back lit shelving, raked ceiling leading to high window.

This project’s investment into the previously tired and poor-performing home involved consciously working with existing materials to deliver a greatly improved home.

completed in collaboration with Allan Spira Architects

Selected projects