Tour of Koala Park House

The path forward for an alteration and addition to an existing home is not always obvious – it can be hidden under layers of add-ons, mistakes and mismatched materials. The instinct is often to demolish and start again.

This was true of Koala Park House. The original home was simple and had good bones but was hidden under decades of Ill-considered additions resulting in a shanty town of appendages. The solution was hidden in there somewhere.

The existing home was stripped back - careful planning, detailing and selections have culminated in a home that functions well and acknowledges its context as it should. The home effortlessly connects to its north facing garden. It cheekily connects to the street in a manner that evokes curiosity but provides safety and security. The living room ceiling projects views into the gum-lined ridge across the road, where koala sightings are common.

A new addition contains the living and dining. The rest of the home was subtly modified to account for the other requirements of the modern family – four bedrooms, bathrooms, laundry, storage and a granny flat.

This is a modest project with ambitious ideas that focus on connection and reuse.