Kiama
Residence
The historic cottage and outbuildings were purchased by our clients with the vision of creating a ‘beach house’ for the extended family to holiday throughout the year and gather over summer. The building is located on the old highway which wound its way through Kiama before the bypass and sits in a streetscape that is the first introduction to the township when entered from the north.
Project Details
Program
Single Dwelling Residence
Floor Area
240 sq. m
Site Area
540 sq. m
Site Location
Gipps Street, Kiama, NSW
The Requirements
While the building itself was not unique, the context among dwellings of a similar era endowed a heritage value to the streetscape that needed to be preserved. The scale of the cottage created a challenge to fulfil our clients’ ambitions of building a four-bedroom home with adequate amenities and living areas to accommodate the extended family.
The imperative of maximising views of Bombo Beach to the north happily coincided with providing good solar access to the communal areas to be housed in the original cottage.
The Solution / Outcome
The physical constraints of the existing building were overcome partly by the addition of bay windows. One on the northern side of the lounge room formed a window seat taking advantage of the coastal views and winter sun.
Another, sized as a day bed, opened up an original bedroom to create a sitting room providing an outlook to the north, crossflow ventilation and a solid wall to the west giving protection from the afternoon sun. A bright, monochromatic colour scheme complementing new floorboards enhances the relaxed atmosphere.
Bedrooms and bathrooms are located in a separate structure at the rear of the property, linked with by a glazed walkway. The master bedroom suite has pride of place at the upper level of the new building opening onto a north facing deck that benefits from the spectacular ocean views as well as the escarpment to the west.
The renovated cottage and new building frame a central, private courtyard protected from the wind and with direct access via a servery to the kitchen. This room also takes advantage of the view across the adjacent the dining area.
