MAPLE TREE HOUSE
WHY
The well-positioned 1964 home required expansion to capture additional space and improve connection with the garden. At the same time, the character of the existing home such as it’s timber floors and eaves and grand stone-stair entrance was to be retained and celebrated.
HOW
A new lightweight-clad pavilion has been introduced to the site, carefully positioned to frame an existing maple tree and establish a Japanese-inspired garden. A long axial vista draws the eye through the pavilion, while side vistas offer curated glimpses into the surrounding garden from each room. The pavilion accommodates a living area, study nook, main bedroom, ensuite, and robe, each designed to engage with the garden and natural light.
Within the original dwelling, the former kitchen, dining, living, and laundry areas were separated by internal walls that obstructed northern light and limited connection to the garden at the south. These divisions were removed to create a generous, open-plan living space. A new balcony to the north connects seamlessly with the existing stone entry stair, while a rear deck extends the living area outdoors, framing the opposite side of the maple tree and reinforcing the garden’s presence.
Timber elements are expressed throughout, at the eaves, pergola, flooring, decks, seating, and joinery, establishing a cohesive material language that blurs the threshold between interior and exterior.
