SIPS Residence

A simple but honest extension connects a highset house to the garden.

To reduce construction time and allow an economy of site labour, the construction utilised a modular structural insulated panel system (SIPS) for the walls and roof that can be erected in a fraction of the time of a traditional build. By celebrating the inherent material of the OSB panel as an internal finish and designing clear and robust volumes, a warm and light space is created with no finishing trades such as plastering and painting.

The modest new extension connects the existing house and the garden with a double height space, providing views from the upper level to both the vegetation beyond and the family space below. The simple form with its steep raking roof allows a bedroom to be nestled at the top.

Materials are honest, raw and expressive of their purpose, acting as a simple shell for the owners to appropriate with their belongings.