Samurai Duplex | SG2 architects + interiors

Two new townhouses are proposed to replace an existing weatherboard house in the leafy eastern suburb of Camberwell. The units are designed to maximise floor area while respecting the suburban context. The design aesthetic was partly in response also to the client’s appreciation for Japanese architecture and culture.

The design brief asked for low maintenance, energy efficient units, which has been addressed through proper solar orientation and sensitive design. Skillion roofs with large overhangs express the units and provide solar protection. High level clerestory windows with operable louvres allow for cross-flow ventilation and heat extraction in summer and proposed green roofs provide thermal insulation and permeability for rainwater retention. The materials pallette has been kept simple and consists primarily of masonry, zinc and timber cladding.