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Courtyard HOUSE by Studio Moore• G I P P S L A N D , V I C •

This labour of love gives a graceful heritage home a new lease of life by adding a meticulously crafted, minimalist extension.

Words by Marcus BaumgartPhotography by Lachlan Moore

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01 The house is clearly divided into two distinct parts – the old house and the new pavilion.

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The story behind the Courtyard House in Gippsland, Victoria, challenges assumptions that may – if this dwelling were to be judged on appearances alone – seem reasonable. The story is also a reminder of the benefits of taking time to do things, and

the organic growth that can occur when a project is given ample time and space to germinate and flourish.

You could be forgiven for thinking this house was the product of a seasoned architect working with a high-end residential builder. But in fact, it is the creation of young interior designer Andrea Moore. Andrea meticulously designed this house for her parents, who bravely acted as owner-builders for the ambitious project. The result is not only a stylish house that is full of character, but also a home that truly belongs to its owners.

The Courtyard House is divided cleanly into two parts: the “old house,” which contains the bedrooms and a small, combined sitting room and study, and the new pavilion, which sits to the rear of the old house and contains the main living areas, utility areas and garage.

The old house is generously, even grandly, proportioned, with lofty ceilings and a wide verandah. Interestingly, the original brief did not

include plans to retain the old house. But when early investigations showed it to be in a structurally sound, if somewhat tired-looking, condition, and given its fine proportions, the project team decided that it was too great an asset to discard.

The decision to keep the old house was a pivotal moment in the evolution of the project. Indeed, the designer asserts that the aesthetics of the project would be “completely different” without the old house in the mix, although Andrea admits she has no idea what the alternative might have looked like.

The plan of the old house is a classic Foursquare that is arranged either side of a central hall. After moving past the bedrooms, the last space you encounter in the old house is known as the “winter room” or “snug,” a combined study and sitting room, which commands an impressive view out to the landscape.

Running past the snug, the hall of the old house spills out into the new pavilion and down a single step that marks the transition into a very different kind of space. Separated from the old house by a channel of courtyard space, the new pavilion is built around an internal procession from the old to the new. The plan of the new Plan 1:400 5 m0

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1 Bedroom2 Lounge3 Study4 Deck5 Living6 Dining7 Kitchen8 Laundry9 Carport10 Barbecue area

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03 The new pavilion is flooded with even light; the bluestone flooring helps with insulation.

04 Sliding doors in the living spaces provide excellent cross-ventilation.

02 The plan of the new pavilion is the shape of a question mark, which wraps around a courtyard space.

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pavilion flows in a question-mark-shaped pattern, wrapping around a sheltered central courtyard that contains a single tree before terminating at the open kitchen.

The new pavilion is flooded with even light, which penetrates the interior through large sections of floor-to-ceiling glazing. Most of the large glazing areas are doors that can be slid open in pleasant weather, and as such the pavilion has excellent cross-flow ventilation. The microclimate of the interior is further assisted by the thermal mass of the bluestone flooring, which helps keep the space cool in summer and retain warmth in winter.

While strong – even bold – the minimalist form of the new pavilion’s exterior architecture did not inform the interiors. Rather, it was the other way around: the pavilion’s design has unfolded out of the experience of moving from one interior space to the next. Subtle level changes between the old and the new, and a syncopated rhythm of enclosure and opening, create a nuanced journey from the hall of the old house to the kitchen of the new pavilion. An important stopping point on that journey is the large picture window that frames an extraordinary view out to the rolling Gippsland hills and the horizon beyond.

Seen in this way, the house is clearly the work of a designer

with interiors training. The difference between the thinking and sensibilities of architects and interior designers can be subtle, yet distinctive. While an architect might have “charged” the project by playing off the discordant aesthetics and forms of the old house and the new pavilion, in Andrea’s hands this house focuses on clothing an unfolding interior. The exterior envelope of the new pavilion is uncompromising, but it is merely a consequence, secondary to the arrangement and quality of the spaces within. The result is idiosyncratic and refreshingly free of aesthetic ideology or dogma.

The story of the house would not be complete without reference to the skill of the owner-builders, who took on the challenge of constructing the house as well as some of the more significant pieces of furniture. The fine detailing of the project has been delivered with aplomb, and it is fair to say that the result is not what normally springs to mind when one hears the phrase “owner-builder.”

The Courtyard House was almost six years in the making, but the results have been worth the investments of time and effort. This house is a true family home in every sense. Although it is tempting to describe the designer as an “emerging” talent, it is fair to say that with the completion of this house, she has well and truly emerged. I look forward to seeing what Andrea Moore does next.

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05 Spaces in the old house are generously proportioned.

06 The bluestone flooring of the new pavilion continues into the bathroom areas.

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ArchitectStudio Moore +61 4 0899 1872andy@studiomoore.com.au

Practice profileA small design studio focusing on spatial design and residential spaces.

Project teamAndrea Moore

BuilderOwner-builder

ConsultantsEngineer: Deery EngineeringLighting: Hub Furniture and Ambience LightingCabinetry: Leigh Wilson Kitchens

ProductsRoofing: Lysaght Klip-lok roofing with Zincalume finishExternal walls: Local silvertop ash finished in custom profileInternal walls: Birch plywood joinery by Eco-Core; plasterboard, painted Dulux ‘Natural White’Windows: Steel-framed windows with matt black finish; Centor S1E Eco-Screen retractable flyscreensFlooring: Sawn bluestoneLighting: Toss B Cone and Toss B Sphere, from Hub FurnitureKitchen: Electrolux induction cooktop; Qasair rangehood; Miele integrated dishwasher; Bosch oven; Liebherr fridgeBathroom: Rogerseller Logic tapware; custom-made concrete bathExternal elements: Custom-milled Silvertop ash decking Other: Eco-Core White Birch Multiply joinery; dining table and beds by Studio Moore

Floor area311 m2

Time scheduleDesign, documentation: 18 monthsConstruction: 24 months

07 The bathroom features a custom-made concrete bath.