FIRST FLOOR SEMI

Working with compact sites may seem challenging and daunting, however LDG enjoyed working with this homes’ owners to come up with clever design solutions to create a spacious family home. Ripe for renovation, the existing 2 bedroom 1960’s semi was very dark and confined and despite its beachfront locale, the only room with an ocean view was the laundry.

Downstairs all of the internal walls were removed and new openings inserted into the exterior walls, to gain as much natural light as possible to make up for the shared party wall. A raised timber deck was added to facilitate level indoor/outdoor connection and maximise the available ocean glimpses. Upstairs, a generous first floor addition incorporating three large bedrooms, two bathrooms and dual balconies was created, with all glazing strategically orientated towards all available ocean vantage points.

Despite the compact 215m2 site, this clever renovation achieved 190m2 of floor area which enabled the homes’ young family to retain their coastal lifestyle, who had previously assumed they would have to relocate away from the coast to obtain an affordable family home. The whole building approval and construction process was also quite timely, only taking 15 months from design to completion, creating minimal disruption and inconvenience.

Builder: Adam Crawford. Photographer: Nuance Photography.