2018 Gallery
Winner: House Alteration and Addition under 200 square metres
Rachel Neeson and Stephen Neille for Hole In The Roof House
The project is an alteration to a bland suburban bungalow on a noisy road in a surprisingly remarkable location. By cutting a hole in the roof, ‘replacing’ the removed floor area on the noisy side, and craning in a mature tree, this house has been transformed into a domestic sanctuary.
Jury Citation
Hole in the Roof House is a delightful alteration and addition to a suburban bungalow, located on a noisy road close by to Bronte Beach. The originally unremarkable home has been transformed into a “domestic sanctuary” by cutting a hole in the roof to make way for a courtyard with a mature frangipani tree. The planning of the home revolves around and engages with the carved-out space, located on the naturally quietest part of the street. This courtyard, paired with the indoor living area, becomes the heart of the dwelling. The courtyard demonstrates the positive attributes of negative space; as well as being a quiet, peaceful focus for the house, it brings light to the centre and enables cross-breezes without loss of privacy – and there is no need to lock up and air-condition the home. Rich spatial experiences are achieved through a layering of the plan, long and short vistas, changes in scale, landscape and the curation of light.
