The family of five that calls RaeRae House home initially set out to renovate their existing two-bedroom terrace. Just as the renovation’s proposal made it through town planning, serendipity paid a visit. The terrace next door was put on the market, presenting the clients with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. They purchased the property and brought in Austin Maynard Architects to build what they referred to as “a home for life, for us and our family. Something that will be fun for our young kids today and equally fun for them in the future.”
The newly purchased terrace house was in a particularly severe state of chaos and dilapidation when the project team came in, and required extensive restoration work. “It was structurally unsound and needed to be demolished, but our builders did an extraordinary restoration job and the original features now lend great texture and history to the new architecture,” notes principal and architect of Austin Maynard Architects, Andrew Maynard.
“The design of RaeRae House initially appears fanciful, but in fact there is logic, reason and rationality behind the sculptural appearance,” shares Andrew. The roof form, for example, was designed to minimise overshadowing and visual bulk while taking the form of an architectural mountain range of sorts. “The same rational principle applies to the exterior materiality. The considerable weight of brickwork always meets the ground and is never elevated,” says Andrew. Timber appears above every opening, adding pattern and interest while strategically reducing costs by minimising the use of structural steel.
Due to the heritage overlay, the street frontage of both homes is left as is. A glazed entry stands between the two formerly separate residences, creating one united space while providing a sneak peek of the newly built section beyond.
As it is built along the southern boundary of the two combined lots, RaeRae House takes full advantage of the glorious northern-aspect sunlight. Containing five bedrooms in total, the dwelling was built with the family’s lifestyle in mind. The downstairs living areas, including the kitchen, living room and rumpus room, are arranged around (and open directly onto) a beautiful internal yard. A hidden pantry exists just beyond the kitchen, in which messes can be made and appliances stored.
The luxury of space facilitated the fruition of the younger family members’ dreams of their very own wing. The kids rule one section of the home, which is deliberately separate from the rest of the house to give the young ones the freedom to be as loud as they like. The rumpus room is situated in this section, as is the craft and study area located just behind it. Within these spaces, the children enjoy spending time playing with toys, tackling creative projects and revising the day’s lessons. The spiral staircase which leads up to the three kids’ bedrooms features bright carpets chosen by the children, and a perforated steel landing unites the three rooms.
The parents’ section is located right in the heart of RaeRae House — just above the kitchen, in the thick of it all but far enough away from the kids’ zone. The couple enjoy the opportunity to engage directly with activity and conversations below, yet love that they can close the bedroom for privacy when they desire.
The front room of one of the existing terraces was transformed into a self-contained guest suite, complete with a separate entrance. The other room was renovated into a home office.
Sliding panels appear throughout the home, creating a nuanced connection between spaces yet retaining the ability to be closed off for privacy. The master bedroom’s sliding panels open it up to the dining area below, providing a connection to (and a means of escaping the chaos of) the home’s living areas. The sliding doors in the kids’ bedrooms open up to the hallway, while the study room’s large sliding door connects it to RaeRae House’s internal garden and living spaces. The sliding door in the guest room is left open when the room is not in use, creating the illusion of a regular hallway. When in use, however, the yellow door can be slid shut for total privacy and independence from the rest of the abode.
Sustainability was front of mind throughout the design process for this dwelling. “All new work aims to maximise available daylight and optimise passive solar gain in winter, while ensuring that summer sun does not hit the glass. All windows are double-glazed with fixed external awnings to provide shade. With active management of shade and passive ventilation, demands on mechanical heating and cooling are drastically reduced,” notes Andrew. The home also boasts an impressive responsible water management feature in the form of a large water tank buried in the garden, which captures roof water and recycles it for use in the garden and toilets.
RaeRae House is a home for the now, but the team looked to the future when planning the project. Designed to be durable, long-lasting and adaptable for the growing family’s future needs, the abode is a classic example of how creative design can transform a space — or in this case, two — for the better.
