Cacala House

This project is for alterations and additions to a modernist home designed by the late Vladimir Cacala in 1971. The project involved minor internal alterations and renovation of the original house and pool, and the construction of a new detached pool house.

The home was purchased recently by the retired owners, and they required minor alterations to the house to suit their needs and to accommodate their extended family and friends who stay regularly. This included enclosing part of the original carport to create a secure garage and storage space. They also wished to renovate the original pool but create an adjacent small building which has multiple roles as a pool house, and also as a guest house and potential house for a full-time carer in years to come.

The approach taken was to make the alterations to the original house appear original, carefully retaining as much as possible of the key defining architectural elements, and making new work match or be true to the mid-century spirit. The new pool house is partially two level, aligning its roof forms and floor levels to the original house and pool levels, to appear as though part of the original composition.

New stone crazy paving has been installed, creating a garden courtyard to the main house, and forming a linking path below the house eaves to create a covered way between house and pool. This changes the previous sense that the pool was marooned beyond the driveway.

Within the pool house, oversized sliding doors fully open back to create a seamless link between inside and out so that the interior becomes a shaded cabana space for use while swimming. A cantilevered stair ascends to an upper bedroom, with a delicate steel rod screen recalling the designs of the original modernist architect.

In summary, this project has restored and enhanced a fine modernist family home, with new work in full accordance with the materiality and design language of the original home.

Photography by Patrick Reynolds