Given that we wanted to retain the external appearance and street scape aesthetic of the original front four room cottage, the north-facing solar gain needed to be from the new addition to the rear where we had more freedom to create an irregular plan. As you can see from the floor plan, the addition is set away from the old house and attached by a wide linking transition space, thus creating a courtyard and light funnel into the angled north-facing window wall. Just to add to the challenge, the view to Mount Beckworth was towards the rear of the property in a north-west facing direction. Obviously we wanted to capture this view but also not be punished by the hot afternoon summer sun which would come from this direction. So we created a deep covered outdoor room as part of the main roof form, so that the bi-fold doors are set right back into this void and in the shade.