Thornbury Townhouses: Meet the Owners
WORKING WITH AN ARCHITECT
Working with an Architect
Anna and Stephen chat about their experience of the design process for this set of homes for a multigenerational family.
Truly a family affair, Thornbury Townhouses responds to a shared brief from two related households. Here, Josh Harris chats to one set of owners, Anna and Stephen, about their experience of the design process.
Josh Harris How was it that two generations of your family decided to live as neighbours? Anna My partner and I had lived in the area for about five years, from around 2010, and we wanted to continue to live in the area.
But we couldn’t really afford a block of land by ourselves. So we decided to buy a block of land with my parents and build two townhouses. We came together, the four of us; my parents were downsizing from a big five-bedroom house [nearby], and we were looking to build our family home. So we were building these two side-by-side houses that were meeting very different needs for two different styles of families.
JH So it really worked out well for both generations.
A Yeah, we’ve essentially got what is a really functional little family house. And, next door, they’ve got a house that feels like a nice downsize that’s also going to meet their needs if they aren’t able-bodied later in life. We also like the idea that if they get to that stage, we’re next door and can support them.
JH What led you to engage architects and how did you connect with Fowler and Ward?
A Tara Ward [practice co-director with Jessie Fowler] is my husband’s sister. We told her about our project and she was interested in taking it on because they had not done something similar [before] – I guess it’s not as common to do townhouses that are architecturally designed, or it wasn’t when we started the project. But my husband and I both appreciate and admire good design. So, it was always what we wanted to do.
JH What was your brief to Tara and Jessie and how involved was the whole family in making the key decisions?
A We wanted the house to feel light and bright. I wanted to be in the kitchen and be able to engage with all the spaces, especially because I wanted to have kids. When we started to engage in the project, we didn’t have kids. Now we do. And so it’s nice that I can be in one space and still look after my child. And my parents wanted it so that they could live on one level and never have to go upstairs if they didn’t need to. We let Tara and Jessie guide us quite a lot. We allowed them to have creative freedom.
JH Did Tara and Jessie change your thinking about what the home could be through the design process?
Stephen It definitely turned out better than I expected.
A Much bigger.
S Yeah, it doesn’t feel like a townhouse at all. The initial concept that they came up with – which really challenged the idea of the townhouse, and that we really loved – the council wouldn’t let us go with. So we had to revert back to a different plan. But it ended up being probably the best option. It feels completely private; it definitely doesn’t feel anything like a townhouse at all. I work in construction, for a company that does high-end projects, and it doesn’t feel any different to that.
JH How do the two households – your parents and yourselves – interact?
How do you occupy the two homes?
A My mum and dad only live here part-time; they live in the country three days a week. When they’re here, it doesn’t feel like it, but we do definitely see each other more than we would have in the past. The houses do feel very separate, so when we talk about [my parents] being here and us interacting, it really only feels like we’re having an interaction if it’s an intentional one.
JH And I guess when you do make that decision to interact, it’s very easy because they’re right next door.
A Yes. I thought I would hate it, but having a child, it’s actually been an absolute blessing. Because I have a very quick
[to arrange] babysitter.
JH Did you enjoy the process of working with the architects?
A Absolutely. For myself, having never been part of a process like this, I felt very guided and supported. And if I did make a suggestion, both Jessie and
Tara absolutely listened to it and tried to meet all of our requirements.
S I had trust in my sister, Tara, to create something that met all our needs. But in terms of design requirements and everything, we just said we want a three-bedroom house, open-plan with an ensuite – that was more or less our design brief. We had a few features that we wanted – concrete floors, timber windows, we wanted it to be light – but otherwise, [Tara] had complete control over the whole process. In my opinion, if you’re hiring an architect, that’s their job. You should have complete trust in their design, because that’s what they do.
JH It really was a family affair, this house, wasn’t it?
A Yes, we were very familiar with [Tara’s] work, [including] her previous work with Clare Cousins Architects, so we felt very confident and we definitely liked her style. So there was an absolute confidence going forward, even before we engaged in the initial design. And we knew she was just starting out [in her own practice], so we did really want to give her a little bit of freedom and we were excited to allow that opportunity.
JH How are you enjoying the home, in this unusual time [during the COVID-19 pandemic]? A It’s been very easy to live in. We’ve all got different needs, the four of us. But it feels like they’re all being met, which would seem like a real challenge. I think it’s been done very well.