Make Remake.

Make Remake is a unique project. In December 2015, a bushfire destroyed 2500 hectares of forest and 116 houses in Wye River and Separation Creek. One of the homes destroyed in the fire was a previous ARKit project. 

From the outset the owners were intent on rebuilding, whilst the original brief for the new dwelling was to replicate the design of the previous house, this requirement soon evolved to allow for a new building of its own making.

A key consideration for the design changes was the significantly altered landscape that the new house was to occupy. Whilst the previous house was nestled into the treetops, the new house, with an absence of vegetation, would have greater visual prominence within the site.

Clad in a chevron pattern of fibre cement sheet and tonal greys, that echo those found in local blackwood and manna gums, the building’s presence will recede over time as revegetation occurs.

The new building is perched high on the steeply sloping site that now offers expansive ocean views. In response to the changed outlook, a generous indoor/ outdoor living space has been created through an extended wrap around deck that adjoins the open plan kitchen, living and dining room and provides a link through to the three bedrooms and two bathrooms.

A key aspect of the original brief that remained unchanged was the owner’s desire for the home to be highly sustainable. To that end, many of the original finishes were reworked into the new design.

These included 100% plantation harvested hoop pine plywood interior lining, 95% recycled composite plasterboard, very high insulation levels and thermally broken double-glazed doors and windows.

Project value: $620,000 including GST, design, consultant and authority fees, factory and site-based construction, excluding foundations and building base. Panelised building system.