This renovation involved the creation of an attic room in my own home, providing flexible space for a family of five.
The space had to act as a study and guest bedroom, incorporating long-term bulk storage space.
Artist James Turrell’s use of light as an artistic medium was an inspiration for the use of Velux windows to cut seamless holes in the house’s exterior skin.
The final design improved the thermal performance of the house, and allowed natural light to penetrate vertically into a part of the ground floor furthest from a window.
The space had to act as a study and guest bedroom, incorporating long-term bulk storage space.
Artist James Turrell’s use of light as an artistic medium was an inspiration for the use of Velux windows to cut seamless holes in the house’s exterior skin.
The final design improved the thermal performance of the house, and allowed natural light to penetrate vertically into a part of the ground floor furthest from a window.
Lighting
Two velux roof windows were installed on the North and South sides of this room, creating a variety of lighting effects to suit the room’s various purposes.
This configuration allowed the choice between penetrating Northern sun and even Southern sun.
Thermal
Different window configurations were utilised to manage the thermal performance of this room and influence the whole house’s thermal performance.
In winter, both windows are closed and their blinds opened to create a greenhouse effect.
In summer, both windows are opened and their blinds closed to create a cross breeze that draws any hot air up through from rest of the house.
Two velux roof windows were installed on the North and South sides of this room, creating a variety of lighting effects to suit the room’s various purposes.
This configuration allowed the choice between penetrating Northern sun and even Southern sun.
Thermal
Different window configurations were utilised to manage the thermal performance of this room and influence the whole house’s thermal performance.
In winter, both windows are closed and their blinds opened to create a greenhouse effect.
In summer, both windows are opened and their blinds closed to create a cross breeze that draws any hot air up through from rest of the house.
Ground Floor
The problem of where to place stairs became apparent during family discussions of how to add another level to the house.
A ladder solved this problem, while not dominating the limited ground space available in this California Bungalow.
The small ladder replaced a linen closet, minimising disruption of the ground floor circulation.
Attic Room
This room includes a central space that functions as a study and guest bedroom.
Hidden behind the low walls of this space is storage space where the family keeps bulk goods, winter clothes and camping gear.
The roof windows’ locations above the table are indicated with a dashed line in this floor plan.
Long Section
Note the sloped ceiling height and central position of the Velux windows in the attic room.
There was no change to the building envelope, preserving the conventions of the California Bungalow housing typology.
