Philosophers' House
A renovation to the rear of an existing house sitting high on the ridge
near Manly Dam and looking East towards the sea. The front elevation of
the house is relatively unchanged, while the rear of the house is
defined by a large new covered rear deck straddling an exposed sandstone
rock shelf allowing access and view to the rear.
The project brief
initially involved reconfiguration of living spaces, a new deck and
better connection to the back yard, however, as it evolved, the project
came to be defined more by a qualitative character shift in the way that
the house operates.
Environmentally there is a 5KW PV system, water
tanks, Low VOC finishes, ceiling fans, operable shading to all west
facing windows and lots of natural ventilation
From a building
perspective, the new work is a significant improvement in the quality of
the house. The builder invested considerable time in carefully working
through the hardwood details. Exposed hardwood structural members are
lovingly joined. New blackbutt doors, windows and screens give a
beautiful sense of warmth and connection. There is extensive use of
blackbutt in the joinery as a way of integrating it into the broader
material palette.
Philosophers’ House represents the creation of a
quiet private world in which the members of the family can coexist in
close proximity to each other, while also engaged in a range of
different activities. There is space for cooking, reading, gathering and
working. Doors and screens can be opened or closed to connect and
separate the different activities. There is a deliberately blurred line
between inside and outside. The rear deck, with its East facing lookout
and outdoor cooking area, is in many ways the major space in the house.
Architect : Matt Elkan Architect
Project Team : Matt Elkan, Sam Horspool
Builder : Lars Fisher Constructions
Landscape Architect : Lindy Hulton Larson
Engineer : SDA – Charles Blumer
Joinery : Luke Geercke
Lighting : Tovo
Photographs : Simon Whitbread
Awards || Publications
2020 MBA NSW Joint Winner House Alterations and Additions $800k - $900k (Oikos Construction)
2020 MBA NSW Housing 'Best Use of Timber' (Oikos Construction)
Houses Magazine - Issue 137
