Extreme Makeover
The old-fashioned Kiwi shack is considerably more charming from a distance. James Hardie helped update one such shack for the twenty-first century.
Julie Carter was out walking her dog when a local house caught her eye. Far from being enamoured with it, Julie was decidedly unimpressed – in fact she described it as an ugly duckling. It was really no more than a shack, but the section had plenty of potential. Pretty soon, she’d bought the land and had set about doing some drawings of what she imagined her new house would look like.
Architect Rex Parsons took Julie’s concepts and turned them into working plans. Julie had used James Hardie Linea Weatherboard on her previous home, and had developed a real affection for the product. She finds that it lends a classical air to contemporary projects.
“I don’t particularly like the look of many modern houses, especially those that have been going up around our area recently. The lines seem too angular, and the forms too monolithic. Linea Weatherboard has the right amount of contemporary influence, but it is still true to the old-villa look. I can’t speak highly enough of it,” says Julie.
They realised that retaining the bones of the old place would keep a sense of the site’s history (as well as avoiding some hefty council charges for a complete demolition). They stripped the house right back to its bones and converted it into the foyer of the new home. Julie had always fancied the idea of having a portico, and the idea had certain practicalities.
“The portico allows me to drive right up to the front door with my groceries in any weather, as well as giving the front entrance a grander, more welcoming look,” says Julie.
As in most projects, not everything was plain sailing. Julie and architect Rex Parsons disagreed over what other materials should be used on the outside. Rex was adamant that Julie’s choice of Linea Weatherboard would not complement her other request – Stutex Stone Cerastone. Julie disagreed strongly and her persistence was vindicated by the success of the final result.
“The use of stone adds a richer texture to the material palette. The different materials, used judiciously, help break up the house, and give visitors focal points when looking at it,” she says.
Another obstacle that had to be overcome in the construction process was the council regulations surrounding water tanks. The tanks had to sit out front, so Rex decided to design a low, flat decking area to disguise them. The structure is only about 300mm high at one end so it can be stepped onto quite easily. But that means that it required significant strengthening so there would be no calamity in the unlikely event a car came to rest on top of it. They contemplated using it as a functional deck but decided against it, as it would have required a balustrade, which would obscure views of the house. As it stands, it is visually unobtrusive and will become more so as the ornamental shrubs grow and conceal it.
Julie is extremely pleased with the overall result. The flat lines of the Nuralite roof reference the previous house, while the spacious and modern design and the James Hardie Linea Weatherboard will ensure Julie and her husband can enjoy their retirement in comfort.
PRODUCTS USED
Linea Weatherboard by James Hardie
