Party Pod House
Party Pod House is designed to let the good times roll. Equally, it’s also designed to provide places for a sunny morning coffee and quiet work, as well as nooks for a beloved dog, Rolf.
The original cottage sits high above the ground, and our clients Claire and Paul love how it fills with light and breeze. So rather than build in underneath the cottage, they wanted their new extension to sit above the ground so it could also capture the light and breeze they love.
Our solution is a mid-tier pod extension that connects the home’s indoor and outdoor spaces and provides new opportunities for entertaining. The original cottage has been thoughtfully restored to house bedrooms, bathrooms and two work-from-home spaces. A few steps down to the new extension transition Claire and Paul from this private area to a new entertaining hub with an open kitchen, dining and two living rooms. A few more steps then lead to a new outdoor living area and pool. This tiered approach creates a journey through the different areas of the house (which was important to Claire and Paul, as they didn’t want to walk up and down large flights of stairs to get from the bedrooms to the kitchen).
Each tier of the home overlooks the outdoor pool and entertaining area, making Claire and Paul feel like they’re living in a resort. But while the outside is in clear view, there are plenty of special moments to keep them indoors too. The new ensuite is located on a verandah where Rolf previously spent a lot of time looking outside, so it has an in-built bench seat that lets him see the street from his favourite vantage point. In the new extension, a ‘snug’ sits just above the dining room, providing a cosy second loungeroom that looks over the living area and to the leafy view beyond. And just below, large windows beside the dining table bring northern light inside (Claire calls this her kitty cat spot for sitting in the sun).
Entering the home is also a considered sequence – it journeys past poinciana and frangipani trees that Claire and Paul wanted to retain, then through an external vestibule enclosed by a small gate designed for Rolf to see outside. Then a few stairs lead straight into the living area of the home. This entry sequence celebrates features Claire and Paul loved about their original home and is intentionally designed to make guests feel comfortable as they arrive (as previously guests had to walk past bedrooms upon entry).
While building underneath was the most apparent solution for this project, the challenge of keeping the extension high without blocking light and views to the original cottage resulted in a home where the design flows as effortlessly as the drinks on a Saturday afternoon.
Location
Yuggera & Turrbal Country
East BrisbaneBuilder
Aligned Building & Construction
Design Time
3 Years
Build Time
12 Months
Year Completed
2023
Value per m2
4,600
Landscape
Edenscapes
Photography & Videography
Alanna McTiernan