House K / Kart Projects

Architects: Kart Projects | Architecture
Area: 143 m²
Year: 2021
Manufacturers: Electrolux, Unios, Anchor Ceramics, Arpa Fenix, Artedomus, Billi, Bosch, Brightgreen, Caroma, Covet, Dulux, Eco Timber, Franke, Grange pools, James Hardie, Liebherr, Lysaght, Maxiply, Mondoluce, Mutina, +9
Structural Engineering: Structed, Cathy Poon
ESD Consultant: Blue Lotus
Construction: Hemming & Nicoll Constructions
Landscape Construction: Vogue Grange
Pool Construction: Grange Pools
Project Team: Martin Musiatowicz, Erhau Lee, Karen Fermo, Martyna Sekula, Steph Pahnis
City: Fairfield
Country: Australia

House K, designed by Kart Projects | Architecture, expands a single-story home while preserving the garden within a small site. A 50 m² extension replaces an old lean-to, increasing the footprint by 30 m² through overlapping functions instead of adding rooms. Set back from the northern boundary, it maximizes natural light and creates dual aspects for the living area. A coffered ceiling enhances spaciousness and light, while a central storage volume with a retractable TV and daybed links the existing study to the new living space. The landscape and pool continue this integration with overlapping zones for planting, swimming, and gathering, featuring an above-ground pool, concrete bench, and steel fireplace. The existing house is divided into a light zone for kids’ rooms and study and a darker zone for the main bedroom and ensuite. The new addition contrasts with terrazzo flooring, plywood joinery, and black kitchen cabinets, while dark cladding and deep red door reveal add depth and shading to the facade.

The clients, a couple with two children, sought a single-story home while preserving as much of their garden as possible within a compact site. The design approach involved removing the old lean-to and introducing a 50 m² extension of interconnected living spaces, expanding the total footprint by 30 m². Rather than adding separate rooms, the layout maximizes efficiency by overlapping functions, ensuring optimal use of space.

The new extension is positioned away from the northern boundary to optimize natural light and provide dual aspects for the living room. Inside, the coffered ceiling volumes reference the cellular layout of the existing weatherboard house, forming loosely defined spaces above each room. This design enhances spaciousness and light by incorporating higher ceiling sections where possible and integrating a skylight within one of the ceiling voids to channel natural light deeper into the home.

The new spaces are centered around a storage volume that houses a concealed retractable TV, other technology, and a daybed, serving as a transition space between the study, the last room of the existing house, and the new living area. This approach extends into the landscape and pool design, where overlapping zones integrate planting, swimming, and gathering areas. Reflecting the daybed and storage volume indoors, the garden features an above-ground pool, a long concrete bench, and a vertical custom steel outdoor fireplace.

The materials and finishes are arranged in blocks of texture and color to define different sections of the house. The existing structure is divided into two zones: a light volume for the children’s bedrooms and study, and a darker, moodier volume for the main bedroom, ensuite, and corridor leading to the new extension. The new spaces contrast with a brighter, more minimal aesthetic, featuring terrazzo flooring, plywood joinery and walls, and two black kitchen cabinets. Externally, the extension is set apart from the original house with dark cladding and deep red door reveals and fins, adding depth, texture, and shading to the facade.