This welcoming Black and White single-storey bungalow at 2 Dalvey Estate,
with a basement and pool looking out over an undulating plot of land,
is the envy of many today. It is a testimony of how painstaking restoration
efforts have made it blend gracious modern loving with old world charms
in a seemingly effortless way.
A Basic Brief
Before it was restored, age and neglect had left the house in a state
of disrepair. There was termite infestation in areas of timbered rafters,
purlins and beams, both at roof and house levels, including the basement.
Numerous bolts joining timber trusses and rafters were badly rusted and
roof tiles also needed to be replaced.
On the onset, it was suspected that previous alterations had been made
to the house as the internal design and the exterior of the house seemed
to be a misfit.
In addition, the whole house was tilting about 70mm from front to rear.
The decision to retain the uneven floor level in view of the age and fragility
of the house was to complicate the interior works at a later stage.
The owner had two missions for the architects. Firstly, the house was
to be restored to its former glory and secondly, the space was to be increased
to meet the demands of modern living.
Rising to the challenge, the architects met the brief with three main
additions and alterations.
Reorganising The Interior
The new layout was simple and included a reshuffle in the use of the
left and right bays of the house around the middle bay. This was anchored
by the living area and the covered front porch. After restoration,
the new dining area occupied the right right bay and the master bedroom,
the left. Verandahs with new doorways have been restored to provide natural
ventilation and lend accessibility from the dining area and master bedroom.
Movable screens of dark timber and metal mesh were used to segregate the
different zones of the interior. Gaps between the ceiling and walls had been
sealed up and installed with mirror-backed timber to reinforce the feel of
openness and continuity within the space.
Extending from an existing half-basement, a full-height basement was
excavated to create more living space.
As on the first storey, the new basement now featured three bays with
the lounge taking up the middle bay, two bedrooms on the right bay and service
quarters on the left. There was also an intimate sunken semi-enclosed walkway
around the perimeter of the building.
Adding Spaces
A new single-storey extension, stretching from the higher foreground to
the lower rear terrain of the property, was created to serve as the kitchen
and car porch. It consisted of a timber box with timber louvers and glass
and was roofed over by slim, floating grey metal. Black painted steel post-and-beam
structures echo the original colour scheme of the main house. A glass passage
linked the kitchen area to the main house.
Splendour Restored
Among other restoration works done were the replacement of old roof tiles
with sturdier French-made interlocking ones. Decayed timber structures of the
house were replaced. The restoration retained the colonial style of the house
well. Although complications from the lean of the house caused some delay and
a more tedious construction process, it was eventually overcome.
Today, 2 Dalvey Estate embodies every homeowner's dream - it is beautifully
adapted for today' lifestyle while exuding nostalgia of a bygone era steeped in
old world charm.