Working
with Denereaz Group Pty. Ltd., Builder of this South
Yarra property in Melbourne, involved the construction
of a new basement, which needed to be integrated with
the existing cellar area of the original house, proved
both challenging and rewarding.
The
suspended swimming pool which is surrounded by garage,
home theatre, plant rooms, gym and a large wine cellar/storage
area needed to be totally waterproofed and tanked.
The intricacy of tanking the suspended swimming
pool effectively, as well as providing continuity of the tanking
membrane to the surrounding built-up roof garden areas, so
that complete water tightness is assured, required collaborative
engagements from the engineers and various specialist contractors.
The garden space created above the habitable basement area
represents the primary external recreation space – an important
amenity for this large family home with four bedrooms.
The intricately designed and crafted
herringbone patterned blue stone paving is laid on a well
insulated composite sub-base that provides for stable temperatures
in the theatre, gym and plant room areas. The vegetated
area over the wine cellar and storage rooms is a winning
formula in that it provides for maximum thermal insulation
of R5, thus reducing the need for mechanical climate conditioning
to a minimum.
Additionally, the green roof area will be
[apart from the solar-heated swimming pool] the most popular
external recreation area whilst providing an attractive external
vision from the living and entertainment areas.
