Designed as a dual residence (a.k.a duplex, dual occ, dual occupancy), Relic House provides a source of income for the owners who occupy one residence and rent the other, a pragmatic solution in today's economic climate. A series of North-South blade walls allow for a cohesive yet distinct identity for each home, creatively giving the owners and their tenants a sense of individual homes while keeping a unity to the design of the entire building.
The form and appearance don’t take precedence over functionality, each home has been designed with thought and care to maximise comfort and use. The backyards face South, but the inclusion of "Winter rooms" on the upper level ensures that residents can bask in the northern sunlight during the cooler months. In one of the residences, a central courtyard serves as an additional outdoor space, allowing Northern light to flood the living areas and enhancing day to day life within the home’s walls.
Aesthetically intriguing and affordable, the walls are built from cost-effective concrete bricks. Their grey is contrast by rust-coloured weatherboard, a palette reminiscent of an aged and timeless relic. All part of the plan, green vines climb a trellis that invites nature to partake in the architecture, softening the building’s stark materials and harmonising it with nature, as if it were not a modern building, but a part of the landscape all along.
Location:
Caringbah South, Sydney, Australia
Completed:
2020
Builder:
Hacio Building
Photography:
Jake Pascoe Media