Ballarat Barn is a barn-like addition to a beautiful heritage home. With three children who are quickly growing up, the clients realised the way they live is changing and wanted to create a new space that could help them spend more time outdoors in their generous backyard. Accordingly, the design acts like a pavilion attached to the original home, with a light-filled open plan space opening onto the backyard.
A shingle-clad addition becomes a pavilion for living in this Ballarat backyard, helping family life to spill into the outdoors.
At Ballarat Barn it’s all about the backyard and, in particular, an exisiting Silver Birch tree. We were asked to design the house around the tree, so that’s exactly what we did! The addition has a full-width wall of glazing to capture views of the backyard and that special tree. The textural asphalt shingles has the quality of bark, paying homage to the beautiful tree and distinguishing the addition from the original weatherboard home.
The roof of the addition has a steep, barn-like pitch which is revealed inside and lined with beautiful timber to create a grand volume for this special living area.
Even in the coldest Ballarat winters this home will stay warm, with a heated concrete slab and double glazing to keep the chill and out and inside toasty. In warmer months, the doors slide open to help family life spill outdoors.
A timeless palette of neutral tones sets the scene for a flexible and adaptable family home.
In the original part of the home, which had previously been restored, the lounge room will become the new main bedroom plus a smaller space for the kids.
Throughout, a neutral palette of naturally beautiful materials will draw the eye to the greenery outdoors and create a durable and timeless backdrop as the family grow.
This home will transform the way the owners live, helping them to achieve more enjoyment from their backyard, that special tree and the simple joys of family life.