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Carlingford Heritage Addition

The Brief
The original brief was to build a granny flat, workshop (for the owner’s antique collection) and a double garage. The entire build was to be in keeping with the gothic, elizabethan style of the existing heritage listed 140yo residence in Sydney's leafy northern suburbs and had to match the existing footprint.

Time Frame
No specific time frame was given, however an estimated 9 month build resulted in a 12 month turn around, due in main, to the meticulous quality of work being undertaken and the client adding additional components.

Challenges... were numerous

  • To build a new structure with modern engineering techniques, whilst maintaining the historical look & feel of the main residence.

  • To incorporate flemish bonded brickwork and gothic arched windows and doors.

  • To match the existing roofing material which was intricate slate.

  • To maintain the existing footprint; this created some challenges in the normal process of construction.

  • The dictated style, along with the hip & ridge spans created a number of lighting issues making the finished interior very dark.

  • To rebuild an existing and functioning well; it captured roof water which reticulated into the well, and then was recirculated throughout the multi-acre property.

  • Minor renovations to the existing structure.

Solutions

  • Engage fastidious brick-workers, who understood the brief and the heritage listed requrements.

  • Every second brick needed cutting to create the flemish bond look; full brick, half brick, full brick.

  • Templates were made for each window in an elliptical gothic arch. Every arch brick required cutting.

  • All the bricks were sourced from a second hand brick yard to colour match the main residence.

  • There were difficulties in finding a worthy slater for the roofing job, but that was overcome.

  • The architect managed to get it passed  through council using the exact same foot print as the original carport structure.

  • The build required standing a steel frame and pitching the roof, before the walls were constructed. Normally the walls would be erected before the roof was tackled.

  • The interior roof frame was painted white, creating a lighter, more luminous and workable interior.

  • The well was rebuilt in the same style using recycled timber and specially sourced bricks to authenticate the style.

  • Solutions for each structural change were made along the way to accommodate, style, design and authenticity.

Acknowledgments
 

Carlingford

Lane Cove Bathroom After.jpg

Challenges

  • Build a 2 storey dwelling on a bed of rubble that was an aquifer, so the piers needed to be drilled down 4m deep to bed rock.

  • A family of 4 were living in the premises whilst it was being re-built.

  • The property was in a 'Flame Zone' right on the edge of a national park = total bush fire hazard.

  • This created a whole new set of requirements; no gaps (or at least < 1mm), certain material had to be used, particular specificities regarding window glass (i.e, nothing combustible), and all hard surfaces; steel brick, masonry, tiles, cement sheets.

  • Access - upstairs to downstairs was extremely difficult. 

Solutions

  • Whilst digging the pier holes, they kept filling up with water, so the piers needed clearing & pumping out every day and sometimes more. There was sub-terrain water filling them up, and constant rubble & debris caving in. To overcome this we built a site specific tool (modified shovel/scoop) that could pick up rubble from a 4m hole. We dubbed it the ’Turlinator’; the brainchild of Paul Turley, our leading hand/carpenter.

Acknowledgments
 

Lane Cove

The Brief
Renovate and extend a home built on what was originally a natural water course. In the 1940’s & 50’s the council used this area as a dumping ground. 

Mosman Second Story Addition

The Brief

  • Use the original house and design, lived in by an architect and then sold to the incumbent client.

  • Maintain the spectacular views across Balmoral Beach & Middle Harbour.

  • Make the interior more light available.

  • Open up the existing floor plan, to provide encompassing views of the landscape across two stories built in 1960 - that period included cedar panelling and mission brown everything.

  • Modernise with minimal architecture.

  • Maintain flat roof.

  • Relocate bathrooms, kitchen, wet areas & main stairwell.

  • Floorboards had to be the same timber as the original house (blackbutt).

  • A/C needed ducting throughout in a very limited space that only had 1mm to spare.

  • Replace windows & doors with floor to ceiling components, along with shower screens, mirrored joinery - all highly detailed.

Challenges

  • Very steep property.

  • Very small block ( 580sqm).

  • Limited road access. Access included 132 steps to the back door and the back entrance was a public pathway.

  • Dark and closed rooms.

  • The existing dwelling incorporated cantilevered beams.

  • Waste Removal  issues abounded.

  • Difficult neighbours.

  • The Stairwell needed to be built into a cantilevered wall and finished with age equivalent timbers (blackbutt).

Solutions

  • An 18m shute was purpose built to literally remove interior demolished debris brick by brick.

  • A trolley was built and used to transport building materials along the public pathway.

  • A motorised curtain system was custom built into the ceiling of each room to cater for the floor to ceiling glass components.

  • There was removal of various external walls which were replaced with steel beams & glass to shed extra light.

Acknowledgments
 

  • Architect: Kent Exell ~ XLArchitects (Brisbane)

Mosman

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