Lajka's Place

Sommer Avenue is an older property located on the southern end of the township of Bright. The property comprised of an existing renovated cottage with shedding to rear dating back to the gold rush days, used once by the local blacksmith. As with many older properties, the land is a generous size of 1588.90sqm, which together with its location being close to the centre of town, caught the eye of the present owners.

 

The owners vision was to retain the cottage to be uses as guest quarters, demolish the shedding at the rear and construct a new contemporary style house for two people with excellent entertaining areas.

 

The design brief was a matchbox style house with a shadow line at slab level to emphasise the visual matchbox effect. The land boasted an elevated position with panoramic views overlooking the township of Bright. With this in mind, a large landing area with a counter lever roof to serve as the main entry point and outside entertaining area was positioned at the front of the house. Adjacent to the landing design, a dining room with folding doors to create an inside-outside aspect was added.

 

The walls in the dining area were rendered the same as the outside walls to keep with the outside concept. A glass sliding door and a folding window over a breakfast bar enables the room to be completely separate from the rest of the house when used as an outside area. The open plan gully style kitchen and lounge are situated behind the dining area to create one large entertaining area.

 

With the house facing north, large floor to ceiling double glazed windows were used to take advantage of the aspect and the views this provided. At the rear of the house, smaller highlight windows allow light through whilst maintaining privacy from neighbouring properties.

 

The shadow lines continue to inside with the use of reclined skirting, no exposed door or window architraves and square set plaster with a shadow line throughout the house. The walls, ceilings and doors are finished in white to give a very clean, modern look. White tiles complement the look, flowing throughout the house and out to the entertaining landing area.

 

Splashes of colour are added in kitchen with the use of "Burnt Orange" splashbacks and "Purple" gloss two pack overheads set against remaining white cupboards and granite top. A bold move that has paid off with its stark contrasts.

 

Both bathrooms added "Purple" vaniites and strip tiles against an all white base to give a luxury modern appeal.

 

Outside the house continues the white theme with "Perl White" window frames up against the Kingspan Kooltherm K5 panel, rendered in white. The K5 panel and added insulation of R2.7 bulk on external walls and R5.0 in the ceiling have produced a very liveable environment for the owners, who report they barely use any mechanical heating or cooling.

 

A 50,000 litre water tank supplies water to the house, however town water is connected but this can be completely shut off to use only the water from the tank which is supplied by the run off form the house roof. A 2.0 KW photovoltaic grid connect solar system supplies power. An evacuated tube solar hot water unit provides hot water, making the house completely self sufficient

 

The "Matchbox" or "Floating" house as it is affectingly known as, has set itself apart from other homes in the township. The stark white sitting up from the green lawn and forest to the rear give it a grand appearance. The bold colours inside add a luxury touch. Simple and refined, this house will stand out from the crowd for generations.