Camlet House

Type : Alterations + Additions

Timeline : 2020-2021

Location : Turrbal + Jagera Lands, Brisbane QLD

Description :

Camlet House is a sympathetic reworking of a 1960’s post war housing commission, on a 612sqm lot on Brisbane’s South side. A formative project for the studio, Camlet House provided a perfect case study on how to revive the under-appreciated housing stock in Brisbane’s fringe suburbs; to sustainably create comfortable homes with the modern comforts for future generations.

The design includes three modest bedrooms, a refreshed family bathroom, along with a generous kitchen and living zone leading out to the rear native garden.

The brief accommodates an easy living lifestyle by lightly altering the internal layout to unlock the once segregated spaces, whilst maintaining a comfortable environment. Staying true to the studios ethos the project maintained the existing homes footprint, simply reworking internal walls while maximizing and controlling the outlook onto green spaces. Minimal cuts to the site were made to allowed for the creation of a generous courtyard dining area, sunken from the rear yard. Sustainability was considered within all moves of the design, with a keen focus on minimising waste and reducing the need for new construction, or, as we like to call it; excess.

Additionally the project presented a tight budget amidst the covid pandemic, along with the added layer of complexity of quickly escalating construction costs. Strategic insertions of new windows, doors and joinery storage reimagined the layout for modern comfort all within the existing walls of the home. Locally sourced materials and practices further reinforced the sustainable ethos that guides our practice. At the heart of the home lies a modern, minimalist kitchen and pantry; making practical use of the original oven alcove. Clean lines, understated elegance and a restrained material palette define this culinary space, creating a sense of calm and flow.

Builder : Owner Builder w/ Buildmaster

Photography : Chris Wardle

Engineering : MCQ Structures