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Located in a quiet suburban street, with predominantly detached single-storey houses, the brief to Steffen Welsch Architects was for three low-maintenance and cost-effective townhouses that would suit either a professional couple or a young family. On a standard suburban site, Welsch Architects credits the planning of these townhouses to the project’s success.
A combination of timber and blockwork, the three two-storey townhouses are all orientated to the north, with adjoining courtyard gardens leading from open plan living areas. And in the case of the front townhouse, it benefited from not only having a northern courtyard, but also a front garden with reduced setbacks from the street (negotiated by Welsch Architects with the local council). Complete with carports as well as garages that connect directly to courtyards, the arrangement allows for outdoor areas to expand when a garage isn’t being used. And for the front townhouse, the front garden allowed for children to play while parents can have their own outdoor space at the same time.
With the developer’s brief to ‘maximise the yield of this site’, this development exemplifies what can be achieved with thoughtful planning – the neighbouring lot only includes two single-storey units placed side by side. An efficient use of space can also be seen inside these townhouses, with the three bedrooms upstairs, including the main bedroom and bathrooms, also leading to a breakout area that can be used as either a home office or alternatively as a television area for children or adults. Mindful of the client’s budget, the open plan kitchen, dining and living areas include timber floors, simple kitchens with stone benches and importantly, generous natural light and cross ventilation.
While these townhouses, varying in size between 150 and 180 square metres, are not like the detached houses in the street, they come with privacy and generous outdoor spaces. And rather than wasting space with corridors, there’s a simple staircase to one side of the floorplan. Unlike some townhouses, here there’s generous storage areas for those scaling down from larger family homes – all setting the scene for a well-considered townhouse that achieved, for a highly cautious developer, a rewarding result.
Located in a quiet suburban street, with predominantly detached single-storey houses, the brief to Steffen Welsch Architects was for three low-maintenance and cost-effective townhouses that would suit either a professional couple or a young family. On a standard suburban site, Welsch Architects credits the planning of these townhouses to the project’s success.
A combination of timber and blockwork, the three two-storey townhouses are all orientated to the north, with adjoining courtyard gardens leading from open plan living areas. And in the case of the front townhouse, it benefited from not only having a northern courtyard, but also a front garden with reduced setbacks from the street (negotiated by Welsch Architects with the local council). Complete with carports as well as garages that connect directly to courtyards, the arrangement allows for outdoor areas to expand when a garage isn’t being used. And for the front townhouse, the front garden allowed for children to play while parents can have their own outdoor space at the same time.
With the developer’s brief to ‘maximise the yield of this site’, this development exemplifies what can be achieved with thoughtful planning – the neighbouring lot only includes two single-storey units placed side by side. An efficient use of space can also be seen inside these townhouses, with the three bedrooms upstairs, including the main bedroom and bathrooms, also leading to a breakout area that can be used as either a home office or alternatively as a television area for children or adults. Mindful of the client’s budget, the open plan kitchen, dining and living areas include timber floors, simple kitchens with stone benches and importantly, generous natural light and cross ventilation.
While these townhouses, varying in size between 150 and 180 square metres, are not like the detached houses in the street, they come with privacy and generous outdoor spaces. And rather than wasting space with corridors, there’s a simple staircase to one side of the floorplan. Unlike some townhouses, here there’s generous storage areas for those scaling down from larger family homes – all setting the scene for a well-considered townhouse that achieved, for a highly cautious developer, a rewarding result.
Written by Stephen Crafti
