SANCTUARY 21

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

ALight touch

With a little passive design, architect Matt Elkan helps a fibro cottage on NSW’s Central Coast make the most of its location.

Words Siobhan o’brien PhotograPhy Simon Whitbread

Lthe northern terrace with its 2m overhang facilitates inside-outside living in the cooler months, with a breakfast nook positioned underneath the kitchen window and an outdoor table for entertaining.

SANCTUARY22

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

SANCTUARY 23

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

When the time came for Jenny Palmer to renovate, she knew she would want a sensitive, humble and community-minded design approach. Having lived for ten years in a beaten-up old fibro cottage looking out on a splendid view dreaming about how the house could be better, she also knew she’d want a home that lives in sympathy with its site and microclimate. Says Jenny, “I had a lot of time to think about the renovation, so by the time it came to do it, I knew the block very well – where the sun was at what time of day and time of year.” She enlisted the services of architect Matt Elkan to transform her dreams into reality. Matt is clearly passionate about environmental design. He cut his teeth with the talented Sydney-based architect Virginia Kerridge, but it was an early stint working in the Netherlands which had the greatest impact on his work. “I was based in Maastricht, the oldest city in the Netherlands, which dates from the 1600s,” says Matt. “I arrived there just after graduating from university. From my time there, a few things really stuck with me: the need to conserve built fabric, living in small spaces and the impact of the climate. Australia has only a slightly larger population than the Netherlands, but the Netherlands is only around 200km by 400km. This makes me feel very lucky, as does our temperate climate!”

“The house I designed for Jenny is a real statement about what my client wants from life, for herself and what she believes in,” says Matt. “The project has integrity and credibility. It’s deliberately humble with a modest environmental footprint.” It was the appeal of a temperate climate that seduced Jenny to the Central Coast many years ago. Now she takes full advantage of life in her north-facing home, which – post-renovation – includes north and south facing outdoor living spaces, two metre overhangs (which shade the living and dining room spaces when required) and ample cross ventilation. According to Jenny, “I’m a real lover of the outdoors and I wanted an open plan, free-flowing entertaining area with the kitchen as the focal point. I also wanted indoor spaces flowing into outdoor to take advantage of this house’s great aspect. I frequently entertain, so these elements were certainly important from a lifestyle perspective.”

“I’m a real lover of the outdoors and I wanted an open plan, free-flowing entertaining area with the kitchen as the focal point.”

Jthe north facing eave kicks up to permit plenty of winter light through low-e glazed doors and windows. the materials pallet is kept deliberately simple, with expressed recycled australian hardwood battens and Colorbond roof sheeting.

SANCTUARY24

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

SANCTUARY 25

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

The passive heating and cooling properties of this coastal abode were given a leg up with the application of appropriate cladding, roof sheeting, insulation (in the walls and roof ), low-e laminated glazing and a basement that is double brick. Matt also paid great attention to the re-use of existing building fabric in combination with the use of sustainable materials. Recycled Australian hardwood was used for the flooring, the exposed rafters, battens and some of the cladding; while Australian hoop pine ply was used for ceilings in the entry to the kitchen and living/bedroom. The same ply was also employed in much of the joinery in the kitchen, bedroom and living room. The property features two sizeable rainwater tanks which are used for the laundry, toilets and garden. As Jenny explains, “It was important to me to have the rainwater tanks. Now I can water the garden when I need to and not use vital supplies unnecessarily.” Jenny’s obvious passion for nature is also evidenced with a discerning selection of eco-oriented art, sculptures, knick-knacks and the like. There’s a windswept Banksia branch beside the bed in the main bedroom, a gnarled chunk of driftwood on the wall, and canvases in various rooms that depict trees, landscape and Australia’s glorious coastline. A good architect has to understand personality just as much as proportion and a properly designed house should fit the people who live in it. Matt Elkan obviously knows his client. Says Jenny, “I love it here. I don’t want to move ever again!”

From the breakfast nook beneath the kitchen window, Jenny’s guests can chat with their host while enjoying the sunshine and views over the water. in the evening they can move inside or, in warmer weather, to the outdoor dining table. (the indoor dining table was designed by matt elkan, and made by Fine earth Joinery out of hoop Pine Ply and linoleum.)

JSheer curtain is mokum fabric with a blockout curtain on a second S track. Curtains and cushions by Preston hunter interiors, West Gosford. empire lounge by Jardan, fabric is mokum Ficus in Sweet Pea colour. rug is by boyd blue. Coffee table is a noguchi. the australian hoop pine ply lampshade is by david trubridge.

Lnormally, passive design requires minimal glazing to shady southern walls, but in this case views over the water demand to be enjoyed. to resolve the conundrum, an open plan design permits southerly views to be enjoyed year-round from either the rear deck or the northern terrace at the front. the best of both worlds.

SANCTUARY26

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

SANCTUARY 27

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

dp

dp

N

LFloors are recycled australian hardwood with tung oil finish. the chair is a “Plank” chair, which can be sourced through Great dane furniture (www.greatdanefurniture.com), while the wall hanging in the study is marimekko from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald, Surry hills, Sydney.

02

GRoUND flooR plAN01 terrace02 bedroom 103 bedroom 204 bathroom05 Laundry06 bathroom07 Kitchen08 dining09 Living10 deck

“The project has integrity and credibility. It’s deliberately humble with a modest environmental footprint.”

03

10

Dthe bedspread is marimekko “tulli”, also from Chee Soon & Fitzgerald.

01

04

08

070605

09

SANCTUARY28

hoUSe pRofile wAmbeRAl

sustainable features

Hot water

Rinnai Infinity 16 Instantaneous Gas

Water Saving

2 x 5000L Bluescope Zincalume Aquaplate rainwater

tanks plumbed to laundry and toilet

Passive heating & cooling

– North orientation

– 2m overhangs to north living /dining room spaces

– Zoned living spaces

– Cross ventilation

Active heating & cooling

– Portable gas heaters

– Hunter Pacific Sycamore ceiling fans

www.hunterpacific.com.au

Windows & glazing

– Pilkington ComfortPlus 6.38 low-e laminated glass

Building materials

– Plantation grown and recycled Australian

hardwoods

– Australian hoop pine ply

– 6mm Hardiflex fibre cement sheet cladding

– BlueScope Colorbond roof sheeting.

– R2.5 bulk insulation in walls, R3.0 + 50mm reflective

foil backed building blanket in roof

Paints, finishes & floor coverings

– Tung oil to timber floors

Lighting

– LEDs by TOVO lighting

www.tovolighting.com.au

DesignerMatt Elkan Architect—BuilderOlzomer Constructions—Project typeRenovation—Project location Wamberal, NSW—Cost$400,000—Sizehouse 139sqm, land 521sqm

wamberal Residence