A contemporary addition to a 1925 Queenslander will provide a family home that breathes, and connects the family to the outside in all weather.

The Teneriffe house is a family home in the riverside peninsula of New Farm, Brisbane. The project seeks to reinvigorate a tired single-storey Queenslander on a small lot and capitalise on the character and location that the client’s love.

The brief was for a dynamic private home filled with natural light, texture and interest. Due to the small lot and proximity of neighbouring houses, privacy and outlook is limited to the east and west. Our concept creates a captivating internal focus in the form of a central courtyard that will improve daylight and cross ventilation. The courtyard also acts as a separation device to respect and maintain the integrity of the existing cottage which is legible throughout.

The west facing rear garden provides a challenge for managing heat gain and to create some external shaded areas to enjoy. Large dynamic operable screens to the rear façade provide the weather and heat protection as required along with much needed shade to the ground level. The central shady courtyard also creates a positive balance of spaces to retreat to when the sun is highest.

The significant extension provides a relatively open plan living plane at ground floor, highly connected to the garden and courtyard spaces, with two upper storeys of more private living and sleeping areas.