Owners Dream – Wooloowin Small Lot Home

The homeowners came to PlaceMate Architects as they dreamed of a larger family home. They needed more space to live and work in their Wooloowin small lot home, and a soundproof room to watch ice hockey for their family including two boisterous boys.

Site Condition

This cute three-bedroom workers cottage sat on a small block fronting a noisy Wooloowin street was bursting at the seams. Entry was via the back door, past a tiny bathroom. It had no covered outdoor area, no parking, no storage and the kitchen was dark. In a designated character area, it couldn’t be demolished and land was tight.

Design Solution

PlaceMate Architects designed a plan to raise the house, demolishing the bathroom lean-to, and build in ground-level living areas under the existing footprint, including a large alfresco area. The plan was to bring the outside in with large doors and a servery. We opened part of the noisy front verandah as the front entry and stairs. We designed a garage that enclosed a rear courtyard to block street noise. Locate utility areas and garden storage on the southern side yard. PlaceMate Architects designed a carpeted, sound-insulate and wire a media room for full sound. Incorporate a laundry chute and walk-in shower into the upstairs kids’ bathroom. Grant the parents some peace with an ensuite and walk-in robe.

If you enjoyed this project, you should check out Woolloongabba Workers Cottage.

 

 

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Client & Partner Testimonials

Our experience with Placemate Architects was outstanding. They did three
things we appreciated, and nothing we didn’t.

They focused on understanding our needs and what we wanted.

They, Jan specifically, consistently generated creative design options to
assist in the extraordinary number of decisions that need to be made from
the very big to the very small.

And they matched us with exactly the right builder, the excellent Harris
Constructions.

Our decision to work with Placemate Architects meant we got what we wanted,
on time and on budget.

Stephen and Lynne Day New

My favourite real estate agent said “Your renovations are fabulous, I still think you have best designed kitchen“ I must say I agree with her. I do love my little place and my beautiful kitchen makes me happy every day.

Jenny Doust Ashgrove

PlaceMate Architects made my house into a home – my home. It’s the little things about this space that make it mine. From the display cabinet in main entrance to the pink hatch I requested in the bathroom, this space has been transformed to suit my needs. The team came up with suggestions that they presented in a way that was easy to visualise. The process was quick, the communication was clear, and their imagination was invaluable.  

Alaska Montford Owner

Best use of a steep site

PlaceMate topped the state for best use of a sloping site over $250000 at the Queensland Master Builders Association Housing & Construction Awards. The award was for the design of two contemporary townhouses built on a 500sqm site that dropped 10m from a busy road. All the bedrooms and living areas captured picturesque city views.

 

Best renovation $250-$500,000

PlaceMate took home the prize at the Queensland Master Builders Association Housing & Construction Awards for the best renovation between $250,000 – $500,000. The winning renovation was a 1910 cast concrete Californian bungalow-style home in Indooroopilly. The design added a new wing and unified alterations undertaken in 50s, 70s and 80s.

Recognised in The Courier-Mail

PlaceMate’s skills were recognised in The Courier-Mail for our transformation of a Shorncliffe residence originally built around 1910.

Registered with Board of Architects Queensland

Registration Number 2457

Our Client Success Team

Placemate Architects works with successful and innovative clients. Together we achieve significant and lasting transformations of cities, houses and landscapes.