This project - an attached single fronted terrace in the inner Melbourne bayside suburb of Middle Park, involves new work to the rear - and extensive renovations of the front two rooms.

The existing portion of the house that will remain is protected by Heritage Planning controls - so the exterior is being marginally modified but upgraded internally.  While the rear (shown in images) responds by opening up to the exterior spaces where possible and closing off harsh summer sun and overlooking views to neighbours.

Construction expected to begin in first half of 2010.

The clients talked to us about an elegant and highly efficient space that could house themselves and their collection of paintings.  We created a simple box with diffused light from large, screened north glazing and a central suspended courtyard.

Like the clients, some of the collection originates in Asia, and so the architecture is inspired by the calm elegance and fine tectonic control of the Tezuka’s oeuvre and SANAA’s New Museum

The existing remaining rooms will be highly insulated and the new concrete flooring will provide the opportunity to increase thermal mass and deal with dampness issues to create a healthier internal living environment.

The new skin of the rear building will enclose the existing brick walls to isolate the thermal mass from external influence.

Electricity will be generated by roof mounted photovoltaics.

Water will be stored and reused on site and grey water recycled (in season).

Hot water will be generated with an evacuated tube panel.

work is completed on the battery point hard-landscape works by core collective

I had a day in Delhi while in transit back to Australia from Dharamsala.

Checked out the Finnish Embassy by Raili and Reima Pietilä - see photo above. Its sister in Canberra by Hirvonen-Huttunen Architects is a favourite.

The building is a beautiful dance - and visiting is one of the best things an architect could do with a free afternoon in Delhi even though the guards would only let me poke the camera through the gate.

Another Delhi highlight was the concrete finish at the Bahá’í Temple.  External precast was a divine mix of off-whites (see photo below); and the internal curved of-form beams are beautiful (but no-one is allowed to photograph inside).

Ryan

The building is progressing well - my job being to integrate seismic engineering with architecture.

Children are excited about the prospect of a new home and eager for completion.

Pictured below are: Anna Owen (Tong-Len UK); Lobsang (Contractor); Dr BK Rao (CBRI Roorkee); Jamyang (Tong-Len); Ryan Strating (Architect)

…view of building works looking north east

expect construction images mid October