Architecture and Interiors

Laroona

Laroona

Project Information
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Tucked behind the main house, in full view of the garden, is our warm and inviting new extension to Laroona. Since its genesis in 1914, this Federation Arts and Crafts style home became disconnected through various renovations. This left behind a legacy of dark corners and dysfunctional space, with returning clients coming to us seeking a home that not only supported their lifestyle but reconnected the separate parts of the property.

Our vision for Laroona was to create a modest extension with minimal detailing. One that complimented the original heritage listed design, while also capitalising on Tasmania’s unique light. This yielded a new sunroom for the clients to bask in, its interiors lined with Tasmanian Oak for warmth and maximum light without the glare. Taking its cues from the existing pitched roof, our design places skylights and windows throughout to reconnect spaces and let light pour in. Timber framing performs a similar role in two ways: by paying homage to the original back door and window, now a working back entrance to the home, and matching the horizontal lines of the original corbelled brickwork.

Simultaneously, a series of modifications were made to other spaces in the home. The kitchen location was flipped, joining it to the sunroom and dining room. The ground level bathroom, toilet and laundry were opened up and lifted to be more airy and light. And the upper level bathroom was reinstated in place of the existing wardrobe, with new storage added to the perimeter of the master bedroom.

Laroona is now a light-filled, well-connected home – a true blending of the old and the new without sacrificing the best parts of either one.

Project start: 2020

Completion: 2023

Gross floor area: 30m2

Architect: Rosa Douramanis at Biotope Architecture and Interiors

Photographer: Massimo Combi

Fieldnotes

The existing porch area was filled in, affecting the integrity of the verandah columns and sandstone base. We wanted to reinstate the porch as it once was – open on all three sides, and restore the entry, which allows for access to the new extension and living spaces.
The existing sunroom, which appears to be an extension, was not functional enough to use for its intended purpose. Lack of penetrable sunlight caused the space to feel cold and dark. The design intent for the extension focuses on channelling afternoon sun through the pitched roof and maximising the morning sun.
The sunroom was dark and cold, and access from the living spaces was through a back door, so connection to the backyard was nonexistent. The new design focuses on opening out to the backyard and allowing a better link from the living spaces to the backyard.
The existing laundry area, WC, and bathroom open out to the sunroom, with no privacy. The updated design focuses on providing privacy to these areas and increasing daylight and sunlight to the open-plan living spaces.
The existing kitchen was considered small-scale for such a large house and had very limited storage space to accommodate the needs of a big family. The kitchen is located in front of the enclosed porch area, and the new design focused on providing better spatial planning between the kitchen, dining and sun/family room, all of which now have an outlook to the backyard.
The door access to the existing sunroom stopped any free-flow from the living spaces to the backyard.