The Best of Both Worlds: Contemporary Shed-Style Living in an Established Suburb
Located in the established suburban area of Swanbourne, the Swanbourne House is a unique residence designed by MDC Architects who wanted to explore how to maximise natural light and ventilation while also taking advantage of the topography of the narrow 500 square meter lot.
Matt Delroy-Carr was faced with the challenge of designing a home on a built-up area where homes are typically large with broad frontages and garages facing the street, leaving little space for gardens.
Unique Solutions
The solution was to design a somewhat single-story building that sat on the higher part of the topography, with the cars parked below and an open deck or outdoor entertaining area above. This counter-intuitive approach led to the creation of a ramp deck from the street with the intention of making the home wheelchair accessible and allowing for aging in place. Visitors bypass the front of the house, and instead come in along the side, where they engage with the building and the gardens.
Inside the House
Upon entering the home, visitors are immediately immersed in the main living spaces, a broad, generous living area elevated above the rear of the site, and well connected to the northern deck. The northern facade is one big glazed element, well shaded, and features an integrated study desk that sits in the windows.
Along that same northern wall is a long corridor that provides access to the rest of the home, including a spare bedroom at the front, which doubles as a multi-purpose room for visiting grandchildren.
The master bedroom of the client is located on the south-west corner of the building, behind a mature tree that provides shade and privacy. A unique angled glancing window connects the bedroom to the street while maintaining privacy.
The lower level of the home includes separate bedrooms, an additional kitchen, and apartment-style living adjacent to the carport, which connects to the rear garden.
Aesthetics and Materiality
The design aesthetic of the home features lightweight structures, sheds, and natural materials such as galvanized corrugated metal and timber cladding that will age gracefully over time.
The upper floor of the house is a contemporary take on a lightweight shed structure, while the lower level is a masonry element built into the topography and acts as a retaining wall and thermal mass of the home.
The two levels are separated aesthetically to appear as a single-story shed sitting on top of a masonry base.
Design Principles
One of the main principles behind the design was to ensure the home was well shaded on the north side, which is designed to cut out all the sun angles during the summer and shoulder seasons, while also allowing for the maximum amount of sunlight during winter.
The home features a flexible shade sail to help with cooling during the summer and high-performance glazing and insulation to maintain a comfortable, stable environment inside.
Overall, the Swanbourne House was a successful collaboration between the architect, client, and builder, with all parties involved from the outset of the project.
This collaboration allowed for open discussions about design features and decisions, resulting in a comfortable, liveable home that performs well and is sympathetic to its suburban surroundings.