Occupying an under-utilised open space at the rear of two existing Californian bungalows, Bardolph Gardens consists of two single storey dwellings that provide environmentally sustainable, affordable, and well-designed rental housing in Glen Iris, a suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Project architects Breathe Architecture celebrated the prominence of brick materiality in the surrounding context.
Their design for the recycled brick facade adds value to the streetscape with a simple, contemporary aesthetic.
The form and pitch of the roof planes takes cues from its neighbouring houses, homogenising the proposed forms with the neighbourhood character.
Dwellings are entered through either a private courtyard or landscaped garden.
Interiors are generous, light filled, warm, and spacious.
Each room has an outlook to greenery.
A considered roof pitch and external steel awnings work to maximise solar gain in winter whilst providing volume and an abundance of light to the living areas through north-facing glazing.
The pared back, humble, and robust material palette serves a purpose to ensure longevity of the dwellings.
Embedded throughout, a series of hit-and-miss brick screens create smaller courtyards, drawing in air and dappled light to adjacent bedrooms and bathrooms.
Bardolph Gardens is designed with a priority towards sustainability with each dwelling achieving a minimum of 8 stars.
Carefully designed to maximise thermal performance, dwellings operate entirely from a zero fossil fuel services system, including a solar PV array and heat pump system that supplies hot water.
Furniture, Fittings, and Equipment
Furniture
StyleCraft
Living room furniture was supplied by StyleCraft for the styling of this project.
Their selections included the Tom Skeehan Studio Hoshi Armchair and Hoshi Ottoman, Ross Gardam Adapt Lounge and Duet Barstools, Arper Pix Ottomans, and Sipa Tommy Low Stool.
Stylecraft has been providing furniture of original, contemporary design for 65 years. First established in Melbourne, Stylecraft is now represented in six showrooms around Australia together with an office in Singapore.
Armadillo & Co
Armadillo & Co supplied the Agra Rug in Duchess for the styling of this project.
Founded in 2009, Armadillo & Co is driven by ethics as well as aesthetics. Their rugs are made with natural materials and sustainable processes, designed to counteract today’s throwaway culture and stand the test of time.
Project Details
Project size – 400 m2
Completion date – 2019
Building levels – 1
Project Team
Architecture
Breathe Architecture
Breathe Architecture is a Melbourne based studio, designing world class architecture with an enduring and meaningful impact on housing affordability, accessibility and sustainability.
Construction
Greg Scott Constructions
Greg Scott Constructions are established, licensed builders in Melbourne, specialising in the transformation of older houses into new and exciting living spaces.
www.gscottconstructions.com.au
Photography
Tom Ross
Tom Ross is an Australian architectural and editorial photographer.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Breathe Architecture. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Tom Ross. All Rights Reserved.
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