Design Brief

The owners wanted to remodel the existing dark two bedroom, one bathroom holiday cottage to a permanent bright and light 4 bedroom 2 bathroom house for under $200,000. It was required that the house remained habitable during the construction and that as little impact as possible was made on the site. Overall the owners wanted better access to natural light at the northeast facing and heavily timbered block, without compromising the existing cottage. Building designer Ueli Schmeid was faced with the challenge of access to water only, with no mains water or sewer connections.

Design Solution

Ueli Schmeid’s new design provided a two-pavilion concept with easy outdoor access and design elements such as a kitchen with a glass roof and a louver wall to the north capturing natural light and the winter sun. The main deck became an integrated part of the living areas, which increases living space without compromising the existing cottage (current footings etc. of the existing house did not have to be changed).

The new second pavilion has a distinct different style to but sympathetic with the existing cottage. The use of straightlines, large glass doors, natural cork flooring, antic iron bathtub give it a modern but down to earth feel. It is also slightly smaller in size than the original cottage.

The principle design criteria was to make the construction legible, allowing it to become an element in the design. Honest and minimalistic elements with recycled materials wherever possible was used to show the combination of structural elements with design.

Materials Considerations

  • Bearers and joist are either recycled hardwood from the existing building or from other building sites in the area
  • Additional hardwood from plantation forest.
  • All off cuts are recycled
  • Louvre glass is recycled
  • Steel joist and bearer LSB have no off cuts and the steel is fastened with screws.
  • Cabin is designed to minimize off cuts
  • Talowood decking short length oiled with decking oil
  • All of the materials used are either screwed or nailed and therefore easily assembled and recycled
  • All demolished timber construction material was de-nailed, planed and reused on the building site
  • Part of windows and doors are recycled
  • Corrugated steel sheets are easy transportable light and durable, pre-painted and recyclable

Consultants & Contractors

Building Designer: Ueli Schmied

Builder: Ueli Schmied

Civil Engineer: Frederik Birkl

This article was written with the assistance of Building Designers Australia.