Enclave House | BKK architects

Designed by Australian firm BKK architects, this project has been undertaken for a couple and their children of varying ages. It includes alterations to an existing Edwardian House and a new separate studio to the rear of the site.

Enclave House, image courtesy BKK architects | Photo by John Wheatley - UA Creative

The house is designed so that the spaces within and around the house will be adaptable over time to suit the changing needs of the family. The possibility for the studio space to be converted into an office has been considered as has the basement entertainment area conversion into a gym or multi-purpose play room. A central courtyard contains a pool and landscaped areas.

Enclave House, image courtesy BKK architects | Photo by John Wheatley - UA Creative

Enclave House, image courtesy BKK architects | Photo by John Wheatley - UA Creative

Site conditions

The existing Queen Anne residence is heritage listed and the site predominantly flat. There is access for car parking to the rear of the property.
Much of the work undertaken to the front face of the residence has been restoration work with a view to preserving the existing streetscape and elevation.

Enclave House, image courtesy BKK architects | Photo by John Wheatley - UA Creative

Enclave House, image courtesy BKK architects | Photo by John Wheatley - UA Creative

Environmental

The environmental initiatives for the project can be summarized as follows;

• There is a 25,000lt underground rain water harvesting tank
• Double glazed windows throughout
• Highly insulated walls floors and roof
• Locally resourced, sustainable, plantation timber cladding.
• Materials that are low-maintenance with inherent finishes.
• Low-VOC materials
• Highly water efficient fixtures and fittings.
• The existing residence has been retained and restored
• The planning and construction is designed to be highly adaptable

Enclave House, image courtesy BKK architects | Photo by John Wheatley - UA Creative

Design Concept

Formally, the extension at the rear of the existing residence is conceived through a subtractive approach that appears to have been carved from a solid block, chiseled away to cater to the planning/heritage overlays, whilst also drawing light back into the residence. Deep reveals form the windows to the upper floor to protect the gaze from the surrounding residences. An interior lightwell and water feature extend the garden space to the centre of the living spaces. The garden has also been carefully crafted to create its own secret garden, complete with designer cubby house. There is an overwhelming sense of seclusion in both the house and garden that creates a type of space that is the family’s own, a retreat from busy lives and the surrounding chaos. The fabric of the building/s operates like a protective cocoon. The differing materiality of the two levels of the extensions creates the impression that the house has been capped or that a ‘helmet’ is placed upon the exterior walls.

Enclave House - Ground floor plan, drawing courtesy BKK architects

Enclave House - Fist floor plan, drawing courtesy BKK architects

Collaboration

As with all our projects, there is a close collaboration between all parties.
The success of this project is testament to a close sharing of ideas between client and architect working with an extremely competent and engaged builder.

Enclave House - Section, drawing courtesy BKK architects

+ Project credits / data

Project: Enclave House
Architect: BKK Architects | http://www.b-k-k.com.au/
Project Team: Julian Kosloff, Simon Knott, Tim Black, Scott Woodward, Michael Roper
Location: Melbourne Victoria Australia
Completion Date: December 2009
Gross floor area: 511 m²
Photographer: John Wheatley – UA Creative

Visual artworks in photographs: Black and white painting in the lounge room
Title of work and artist’s name: Mitjili Naparrula

+ About BKK Architects

BKK Architects was founded in 2000 by Tim Black, Julian Kosloff and Simon Knott. BKK Architects produces internationally recognised design from within a studio environment, merging large-scale capabilities and experience with the adaptability, innovative culture and individual client focus of a smaller practice. The practice is currently working on a wide range of projects, ranging from small residential projects right through to large scale masterplanning and urban design projects. Ideas are fundamental to the design ethos of BKK. All projects are imbued with meaning though a thorough investigation of concepts that lie at the core of a project. This ideas based approach permeates every step of the design process. Each realised design is therefore enriched with far-reaching cultural, social, economic and environmental impacts.

+ All images and drawings courtesy BKK Architects | Photo by John Wheatley – UA Creative