WHEN LESS IS MORE
A creative and daring solution to the expansion of a California-style bungalow becomes a model for modular design within the architectural community
極具創意又前衛的擴建方案讓這加州式平房成建築社區的組合式設計模範
To undertake a house’s transformation without terminating its blueprint is no easy feat - but the Australian design firm Studio Prineas, which recently rebranded from Architecture Prineas, was well equipped for the challenge. Tasked to rework this 1930s California-style bungalow located in Sydney’s North Shore for a family of four, the architects sought to deliver an overhaul without stripping the home of its soul and architectural character.
“The materiality of the space was kept simple yet dynamic,” says Jacqueline Lindeman of Studio Prineas. “We applied a black and white palette, grounded by a polished concrete floor that maximises the thermal efficiency of the new space.” Rather than command a severity typically found in many monochromatic spaces, the choice of a minimalist aesthetic throughout the home promotes a feeling of warmth, and allows the indoors and outdoors to merge seamlessly. Timber furniture and accessories crafted with other natural materials soften the black and white walls, and ensure that the leafy outdoors remained a prominent feature of the space and its experience.
Foremost to the home’s transformation was the addition of space without tearing apart the existing footprint. “To maintain the bungalow and its original features, we connected an addition through a glazed link,” Jacqueline says.
But with limitations in the renovation budget, Studio Prineas was pressed to formulate a solution that wouldn’t compromise material quality, nor the client’s wishes. The result supports the oft-proposed notion that scarcity leads to creativity. “Faced with an extremely tight budget, the key challenge was designing a generous space that was also relatively simple to construct,” Jacqueline explains. The solution came in the form of a shed-like structure that not only adhered
要為一個單位進行大翻新，很難不改變空間原有的規劃——但不久前由Architecture Prineas改名為Studio Prineas的澳洲設計公司卻成功挑戰了這個難題。公司受一個4人家庭委託，為他們在悉尼北岸一間1930年代加州風格的平房進行重建；最後，建築師們在不損居所的靈魂和建築特色之下，為空間換上了優美的新貌。
「空間的用料簡約但充滿活力。」Studio Prineas的Jacqueline Lindeman解釋說：「我們選擇了黑白色主題，而拋光混凝土地板能增強空間的熱能效用。」很多單色調的住所都偏向簡樸，但在全屋應用同一種簡約美學便能營造出溫暖感，同時令使戶外和戶內完美融合。木製傢具和配飾搭配其他天然物料，有效緩和黑白牆壁的堅實感，並確保窗外綠意盎然的景致能成為居所一大特色。
工程的首要任務是加建一個不會與主建築分隔的新空間。「為了保留平房和其原有特色，我們利用一條玻璃走道把新建區連接起來。」Jacqueline說。
to the constraints, but also affords the clients additional floor area that synchronises with their growing needs as a family. Apart from the original intended result, the link also created two internal courtyards that enable natural light to stream through the windows, and into the en-suite and the study.
In conceiving the rear addition, Studio Prineas considered one- and two-storey options, each comprising a series of modules based on a grid system that can easily be manipulated to allow additional light into the home’s renovated portion. The exploration proved to be both an original idea and an economical solution that received plenty of satisfaction from the homeowner, and has drawn recognition within the architectural community for Studio Prineas – it’s worth noting that the project has since become a case study for developing modular and repeatable design that allows flexibility to suit the homeowners and the site.
When asked about the new features that bring the homeowners the most pleasure, Jacqueline concludes: “As was our client’s brief from the outset, the addition has allowed the kitchen to become the new hub of the home, around which all other domestic activity takes place.” //
翻新工程的預算有限，但Studio Prineas成功構思出一個雙贏方案：既不犧牲物料的品質，亦能符合屋主的期望。在資源不多的情況下重新設計一個住宅絕非易事，但居所的新貌卻印證了「有限創造無限」這句說話。Jacqueline指出：「面對極為緊絀的預算，最大的挑戰是要設計一個寬敞但建造較簡單的空間。」她決定要打造一個以儲物棚為藍本的結構，不但能迎合各種限制，還為屋主們提供了額外空間，留作將來家庭增添成員時的所用。新建的連接走道旁多了兩個內庭園，讓日光自窗子傾瀉而入，也照亮了主人套房和書房。
在規劃新建空間的後方區域時，Studio Prineas考慮打造一層或兩層結構，各設一系列易於變動的組件，好讓更多日光能直達居所的翻新部分。這個新穎的嘗試既富原創性，又達到經濟效益，屋主們非常滿意，也令Studio Prineas獲建築界高度讚賞——這個工程更成為研發組件式和可重複設計的研究對象，在迎合屋主要求和工地條件方面提供更多靈活性。
當問及屋子哪個新特色最得屋主們歡心時，Jacqueline總結說：「居所由一開始便根據屋主們的意思來構建，新建部分令廚房成為了家居的新中心點，各種日常也是環繞廚房上演。」//