Fenwick Street

North Carlton

Design and construction of a balcony and facade alterations to an existing house & pottery studio located in Carlton North. It was paramount for the client to have a north-facing private open space, and for solar access to the upstairs living area to be reduced as the north-facing facade received direct sunlight throughout the day.

The budget was limited so where possible, existing structure and recycled materials were used in order to budget for the sun shading devices. The existing 150PFC was retained and modified with additional cleats for more floor joists, and recycled concrete blocks were reused to extend the parapet walls. Works were planned in an efficient manner in order to reduce the need for hoarding and footpath occupation.

Opaque glazed balustrading reduces unwanted views into the living area while the external venetian blind controls solar access to the interior spaces and blocks solar energy before it enters the building envelope. The new fenestration consists of double glazed timber sliding doors to provide cross ventilation, while fixed clerestory windows provide light even when the blind is lowered, and are sized so that they are shaded by the existing eave during summer. These design solutions aim to reduce energy use while providing a new outdoor living area.