William Street

Location: Abbotsford

Status: Completed in 2009

Alterations to existing single residence with double-storey addition, and landscaping; new double-storey studio garage at rear of house.

The single residence on William Street in Abbotsford was demolished while retaining the front façade to create a single residence with a double-storey extension and a double-storey garage studio at the rear of the house. The house is split into three spaces where each space steps up to create a sense of arrival into the new area. This sense of arrival is accentuated by the height differences and the slit clerestory windows. The openings allow for ventilation and natural sunlight to enter the space, emphasising the thresholds of the spaces. Each space opens onto the garden drawing the view outwards. In addition, the living space is rotated to allow the afternoon sun to enter the space through the floor to ceiling windows.

The garage studio at the back is unique to the site and reflects the rough neighbourhood through its heavy steel façade while the rest of the extension is of delicate weatherboard protected by the garage.

Photo credit: Wei Wei