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Chan Architecture Leverages A Unique Urban Context

Chan Architecture Leverages A Unique Urban Context

Boundary Street House by Chan Architecture implements contextual incongruity with industrial roots on a tricky, triangulated site.

Boundary Street House by Chan Architecture is undeniably striking. Its unabashedly angular composition sets up a bold but appropriate architectural tension with the adjacent Victorian Worker’s cottage.

“The conceptual framework of the project was to draw inspiration from the industrial warehouse building type, and re-work it to suit a residential brief,” explains Anthony Chan. “The project is unique in its context and so provided an opportunity for a distinctive design.”

Bold, angled geometries define the façade which features recycled brickwork and black sheet metal cladding. “The façade was then ‘peeled open’ via the use of perforated mesh exposing the steel structure underneath,” Anthony adds. “This created varying levels of transparency and privacy whilst allowing natural light into the entrance area.”

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt facade

Anthony’s clients sought a three-bedroom, two-bathroom house with flexible, open-plan, living spaces. The Chan Architecture team gained intimate understanding of how the clients planned to use each space in order to craft a fully bespoke response.

Despite the triangulated nature of the site, every living space benefits from access to sunlight and natural ventilation, ensuring a holistic level of comfort throughout the house. “Due to the passive design principles that we employed, the house is comfortable all year round, only requiring minimal heating and cooling,” says Anthony. “In addition, the downstairs living spaces wrap around a north-facing internal courtyard, providing natural light and ventilation to the main living spaces and the double height entry area allows for hot air to be flushed out of the house during summer.”

Other passive design principles that Chan Architecture adopted include the strategic positioning of living spaces and windows for solar gain in winter, and sliding doors for cross ventilation in summer. “Extensive brickwork was also used on the eastern façade to add to the thermal mass of the building in winter,” continues Anthony. “This was all to minimise the amount of energy required to heat and cool the house throughout the year.”

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt kitchen

Overall, Boundary Street House proves what a thoughtful, valiant and holistic response to context, site and environment can achieve for its inhabitants.

Chan Architecture
chanarchitecture.com.au

Photography by Tatjana Plitt

Dissection Information
Recycled brickwork from Paddy’s Bricks
Perforated metal from Locker Group
Tiles by Classic Ceramics
Stone tops by Caesarstone
Timber flooring supplied by Tait Flooring
Windows from AWS Windows
Appliances from Miele
Bathroom fittings from E&S Trading, Bentons, Rogerseller and Parisi
Carpets by Normal Ellison Carpets

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt dining

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt dining outdoor

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt stairs

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt hanging light

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt stairs down

Boundary Street House Chan Architecture CC Tatjana Plitt exterior

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Author:

Elana Castle is an architect, writer and photographer. She has spent her time traveling and working across the globe with stints in New York City, Cape Town, Sydney and currently resides once more in New York City. In 2009, she established STUDIO e* as a framework for her architecture, writing and photography and in 2012 she went on to co-found Castle + Beatty, an architecture and interiors photography business with an editorial edge.