Should I Renovate or Rebuild?
I love my house but the layout doesn’t work for us
Not so long ago, we were approached by two different couples who had the same problem. Different circumstances, different needs, same problem. Perhaps you can relate?
They both loved their neighbourhoods and there were things they loved about their homes, but the houses didn’t work for the way they lived any more.
The first couple had built a family home with a volume builder a number of years earlier but found the end result was not that functional. The floor plan made it awkward to move between rooms. There were too many rooms and none were of a good enough size to feel useful. Space was taken up by passages and corridors. The family living and kitchen areas were dark and lacked cohesion. There was inside and outside with no natural flow between.
The second couple had lived in the front one of three units on Brighton’s Esplanade for some years but changes in their lives meant there were too many empty rooms and lots of unusable space. The land area was small but ideally located with a bayside aspect, and the owners wanted to be where they had always lived and where they had friends and family.
What to do?
Both couples had to make a difficult decision:
Knock down and re-build
Renovate
Move house
Each choice meant spending a big chunk of money and disrupting family life for an extended period of time. What to decide? There was so much uncertainty. Would they end up with what they wanted? Was it realistic to hope for a home that was the right fit for them and their family?
Both couples knew of JDA Architects from other projects in their neighbourhood and came to us for help. They were full of questions and ideas, but this is what they really wanted to know—
Can I turn my existing house into a home that works for me?
Find out what is possible
For me, this is one of the questions that goes to the heart of why I love being an architect—it gives me the opportunity to draw on my years of training and experience to problem-solve space and context in response to highly specific needs and constraints.
You see, the first stage of any project is always conceptual, and at JDA Architects we take great care to work on projects step by step because early decisions play a huge part in determining whether people can achieve the outcome they are looking for.
It is important to talk through issues and needs, but asking the right questions at the beginning is critical—
Is there a way to keep the things you love and improve the things you don’t?
The whole point of the conceptual stage is to discover what is possible. It’s an exploratory stage that allows you to dream big. A good architect can think strategically about where you want to be and how you want to live, and find the best option that helps you achieve that sensibly and realistically. A good architect knows through deep, direct, current experience what will and what won’t work for you, your site and your Council.
Make an informed decision
After talking through possibilities and implications, the first couple asked JDA Architects to explore proposals that would improve the liveability of the existing house, and provide flexibility for the changing needs of a growing family. We came up with two concepts that offered a re-modelled interior to consolidate some of the smaller unusable spaces into larger functional rooms.
The first concept worked with what was there to improve liveability without major structural implications. By taking out a lot of the internal walls and corridors we created a modern floor plan with interconnected spaces that flowed effortlessly, but allowed separation of distinct living zones.
The second concept included structural change but gave them the home they really wanted. We created a separate zoned living area for an older teen, and reorientated the main kitchen and dining spaces towards the garden with glass stacking doors that disappeared into a wall cavity allowing the house to open up onto a covered outdoor entertaining area.
Choose the right fit for you
The couple went ahead with the structural renovation. It made the most sense because the extra expenditure returned far greater value by giving them the lifestyle they wanted now, and a future-proof house that would continue to work for their family.
When the second couple considered their options, they felt the existing house did not offer enough potential for the changes they really wanted. They decided to knock down and start again.
It was very important for the new house to adapt to the couple’s lifestyle as they got older. They wanted to continue to live in it as their needs changed. They needed space to accommodate visiting family, but did not want to have empty, unused space.
By adopting a ‘reverse living’ concept we were able to locate the main open-plan living areas at first floor level with full-height glazing on three sides maximising the view across Port Phillip Bay. An expansive roofed terrace opening up from this living space provided internal/external connection and allowed the owners to enjoy the aspect from inside and out.
A new fully glazed lift provided easy access from the lower level garage/workshop to the two floors above allowing the owners to arrive directly into the kitchen/dining with grocery supplies.
Bedrooms and bathrooms were tucked protectively into the rear of the house at ground floor level away from weather and noise, while a second living area opened out to the beachside garden.
Discover first, then decide
Ultimately, both couples made clear, confident decisions about the best fit for their needs:
Both explored what was possible before deciding what was right for them
Both were presented with realistic choices that gave them certainty
Both were able to make clear and confident decisions to stay in the place they loved.
If you are faced with the frustration of a somewhat lovely home in a location you love, take time out to explore possibilities before you make any big decisions. It’s the best way to avoid pointless disruption, frustration, disappointment, wasted effort and expense.
If you would like to find out whether your house is hiding a home that’s just right for you, email or phone me on 0439991887. It’s not a step, it’s just talking.
