Designing for a Wide Block of Land - Episode 3 (Season 6 - Designing for difficult sites )

Request your free E-Guide “The Wide Block” which includes a transcript of this podcast >>> www.undercoverarchitect.com/wideblock  

Do you have a wide block? And do you know how to design your new home or renovation to make the most of it? 

When it comes to wide blocks, these can occur in different configurations.  

There’s of course the more generous blocks. Ones that have nice wide frontages – so generally 15m plus – and are overall quite large in area. They can present challenges in how you arrange the home on the block so that it’s not dwarfed by the overall block itself. So it doesn’t look like a little dot on a great big horizon, basically!  

At the other extreme, there’s the configurations where the block is wide and shallow. There are a lot of areas where subdivision has created blocks with a wide frontage, and their overall dimensions mean that a home will be strung out with most of it exposed to the street.  

 

I’m going to focus mainly on those that are shallow and wide – so almost the opposite of what we discussed in narrow blocks in the last episode. The strategies will apply whether your block is shallow or not, but I’ll be specifically talking about blocks that are wider than they’re deep. 

However there are consistent challenges and opportunities when it comes to designing for a wide block that are worth being aware of to get great outcomes.  

In this episode, I discuss the key challenges to contend with when designing for a wide block of land. I also explain the opportunities that are available, and how to maximise them. 

And, I take you 10 key questions to ask about your wide block, and the home you’re building or renovating on it. These questions will help you create a home that suits your land, and creates a great outcome for your lifestyle. 

Whether choosing a home off the plan, building a custom designed home, or renovating and extending your existing one, there are certain things to know so you can make the most of your wide block. 

Listen to the episode now! 

LINKS MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE: 

Check out photos of Amelia’s own renovation of a Queenslander that was moved sideways on its block to accommodate its extension >>> https://www.houzz.com.au/projects/815266/ashgrove-queenslander-renovation-and-extension 

This home was also relocated sideways to add an extension that gave space and a contemporary feel to the home >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/before-and-after-bringing-a-dilapidated-workers-cottage-into-its-new-future/ 

This wide frontaged home faced north to street, and required a specific design approach to get it right >>> https://undercoverarchitect.com/spotlight-creating-a-new-coastal-home/