BOTANY HOUSE 1

From an article published by Yellow Pages, in the Showroom segment of Home at Yellow.

A light, bright, energy-efficient home extension

Architect Russell Dunn has designed an energy-efficient home extension featuring recycled Sydney blue gum. This extension to a heritage home on a small block in the Sydney area of Botany makes impressive use of recycled materials and features a distinctive skillion roof design. Architect Russell Dunn was determined to create new rooms that utilised the full width of the property, and he also wanted to open up the back of the house to the rear yard.

"Light and cross ventilation from the side courtyard were important features to retain," he says. "I also wanted to achieve winter sun penetration into the southern lounge and high-level windows for efficient ventilation."

Getting the project off the ground took some wrangling with heritage authorities, but with the help of a persuasive town-planning report and a competent heritage consultant, the project was given the go ahead.

Owners Edith and Martin wanted an extension that reflected the industrial history of the area. This has been achieved through the use of recycled materials, predominantly Sydney blue gum. The timber is used in the floors, windows and doors in the back room, with the latter two elements taking six months to complete because of the difficulty of finding high-quality timber and someone to do it justice.

The roof form, which is visible from the rear lane only, reflects the angle and materials of the neighbour's rear roof. "The lighting, rhythm and hand-crafted timber of the pergola and column cladding [extend] inside without detracting from the more refined detailing of the lounge interior," explains Russell.

Providing sufficient tool storage for Martin, a handyman, was a challenge, given the lack of available space. To get around this, Russell designed outdoor cupboards that have been integrated into the rear of the house and within the new carport's side setback.

For the couple, and for Russell, the standout feature is the striking Sydney blue gum. "We could have opted out and gone with Oregon, but would have always wondered 'What if?'," says Edith. "We persisted and love the end result."

Rowena Robertson