Grotto Studio references shadows with charred-timber cottage extension in Perth

Australian follow Grotto Studio has added a charred-timber extension named Shadow Home to a brilliant cottage in Perth.

Knowledgeable by shadows, the extension was designed to distinction the present cottage, which was constructed within the early 1900s and featured authentic components that the studio aimed to protect.

“It was essential to protect the cottage’s allure and character whereas updating it to cater to up to date dwelling wants,” studio founder Craig Nener instructed Dezeen.

“The cottage was tastefully refurbished and built-in with new additions, making it a key characteristic of the design moderately than being overshadowed by the brand new components.”

The studio tailored the inside format of the present constructing, retaining its authentic character whereas balancing it with the addition of a up to date extension behind the house.

“The concept behind the design of the Shadow Home is harmonious fusion – a mix of outdated and new, gentle and darkish, conventional and fashionable,” Nener mentioned.

“We aimed to craft an area that not solely caters to sensible dwelling wants but in addition provides an immersive, sensory expertise to its inhabitants.”

A sequence of bedrooms, loos, and lounge areas characteristic all through the present portion of the home, whereas an open dwelling house and visitor suite have been added as a part of the extension.

The brand new block is clad in jarrah timber, which was impressed by shadows and has been charred and weatherproofed utilizing the normal Japanese methodology of Shou Sugi Ban.

“A key facet of the design was to reinforce the interaction of pure gentle, shadows, and supplies,” mentioned Nener. “The blackened texture provides a particular aesthetic attraction that enhances this interaction and helps the brand new addition recede visually, permitting the unique cottage to take care of its prominence.”

The brand new constructing, which has a protracted, rectangular kind, is topped with a mono-pitched roof and opens onto darkish timber decking sheltered by an overhang. A number of outside areas are organized across the exterior of the extension, together with smaller gardens enclosed by black brick partitions and wood planters.

Accessed by a set of steps, the entrance deck spans a portion of the brand new quantity and provides entry to the house’s entrances, together with a charred-timber door that results in a courtyard.

To the left of the entrance deck, one other door leads on to a darkish timber-lined ensuite visitor lodging unit which opens onto a personal backyard and is separated from the remainder of the home by the courtyard.

Across the courtyard, red-toned exterior partitions constituted of unfinished jarrah wooden evoke a way of heat. A set of double glass doorways leads into the principle portion of the extension, which homes an open-plan kitchen, dwelling, and eating room.

Right here, the studio used gentle wood panels to cowl the partitions and the angular ceiling, in addition to a wall of cabinets that spans the size of the room. Mild wood furnishings replicate the tones of the bigger surfaces, whereas polished concrete options on the ground and kitchen island.

Different partitions and surfaces within the extension are lined with darkish timber, together with the partitions of the visitor bed room and the ground of the visitor suite, which is constituted of jarrah timber sourced from the demolition of the again of the present cottage.

“The selection of darkish timber for the inside was motivated by a need to create a wealthy, intimate, and immersive environment,” mentioned Nener. “The darkish tones add depth and character to the areas, making a heat and welcoming atmosphere.”

“It additionally provides a delicate connection to the charred exterior, leading to a harmonious and cohesive design language all through the home,” he continued.

Different Australian properties not too long ago featured on Dezeen embrace an accessible dwelling in New South Wales influenced by Japanese design and a vacation dwelling refreshed with a maximalist inside that attracts upon seaside golf equipment.

The images is by Jack Lovel.