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Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal
Sumit Singhal loves modern architecture. He comes from a family of builders who have built more than 20 projects in the last ten years near Delhi in India. He has recently started writing about the architectural projects that catch his imagination.

Bike House in Melbourne, Australia by FMD Architects

 
April 4th, 2015 by Sumit Singhal

Article source: FMD Architects

The site is a small 300m2 suburban block in south east Melbourne. The brief was to design a new dwelling to accommodate a family of 4 while also including flexible spaces which can change as the children grow and the needs change. A collection of bikes also needed to be accommodated internally and externally as these are a major form of transport for the family.

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

  • Architects: FMD Architects
  • Project: Bike House
  • Location: Melbourne, Australia
  • Photography: John Gollings
  • Project Team: Fiona Dunin, Katherine Peasley, Robert Kolak, Caroline Tan, Alex Peck, Ryan Fothergil
  • Structural Engineer: Perrett Simson P/L
  • Building Surveyor: Wilsmore Nelson Goup P/L
  • Site Area: 298 m2
  • Total Building Area: 202m2
  • Project Completion: 2014

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

The budget was very tight so the building areas were kept as compact as possible, and simple cost effective materials used throughout. A 2 storey structure was designed to minimise the building footprint and maximise the amount of garden space.

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

The strategy was to design a simple cement sheet box with elements which folded out of it to create shading devices and privacy screens where required.The fence unravelsitself from the building, folding down from the entry canopy onto the street then winding around to conceal the bin enclosure. Triangular perforations in the fence aim to deter the local graffiti artists as well as allowing light to penetrate. This material is also used as a privacy screen on the 1st floor to prevent overlooking into neighbours’ properties.

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

In contrast the southern recycled brick wall offers itself as a canvas for the local graffiti artists which reside in the area. Internally it is left exposed  internally and is used to store a series of racing bikes.

While the appearance from the street is a pristine grey sculpted box, in contrast, the interior is rich with texture and colour, reflecting the active life of its users.  A simple palette of exposed brick, concrete slab, local timber, ply and laminate are used internally. The unfolding continues in the interior with the Kitchen ceiling wrapping down to become the cabinetry. Stone and timber are spliced together, imitating shadows cast by the canopies externally. Spaces fold and twist over themselves, in both the joinery and tiling, responding to the stretching and folding occurring on the façade.

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Along with the bedrooms and living areas, 3 additional spaces were incorporated as flexible zones. Downstairs,one can be used as a separate lounge or bedroom, while the 1st floor space can also be used as a play space or study, depending on the needs of the family at different times. A home office is also incorporated at the end of the brick corridor space, which can be used by either the parent working from home or as the childrens computer area. A shed is carefully concealed on the south of the building, accommodating more bikes and tools for bike builds.

Every millimetre of space has a purpose, although the spaces are flexible enough to change as the family dynamics change over time.

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © John Gollings

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

Image Courtesy © FMD Architects

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Category: House




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