Open-Air Addition Transforms Bungalow for SummerSunset

Open-Air Addition Transforms Bungalow for Summer
Sunset

We frequently find ourselves drooling over the renovations documented in Sunset, but this one really knocked our socks off. Here's a couple, Gus and Stephanie Koven, whose little bungalow failed to interact at all with its surroundings; there was just one tiny window that looked out on the backyard, and a low door to the yard which they likened to a tunnel. So they engaged an architect friend, Francois Perrin, to design an affordable addition that would incorporate the outdoors into their home, and now they think of the result as their "summer house." Details after the jump...

Essentially, Perrin extended the rooms at the back of the house, added a bathroom, and then covered all of the new space with a wood frame wrapped in a polycarbonate material called Polygal.

Since Polygal only costs $2 per square foot, it was a relatively affordable solution, and because it reflects light in summer and absorbs it in winter, it makes ideal use of the Venice, CA, climate. Sliding doors and windows provide ample cross-ventilation as well. During the warmer months, the Kovens take advantage of the open-air possibilities, basically living in their garden much of the time.

For more details about the design (and a before photo), take a look at the full story over at Sunset.

(Images: Lisa Romerein for Sunset)

Comments (5)

Maybe they should rename the blog "Hater's Therapy". Just a suggestion.

posted by shaunon on July 17th 2009 at 9:04am
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"Apartment Therapy" is a small space living philosophy, it's the concept or idea of an apartment, the word does not need to be taken literally.

posted by atomicranch79 on July 17th 2009 at 10:55am
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Such a beautiful, functional and pleasant blurring of indoor and out.

"Just one word, Benjamin. Renewables." Not quite how it went, eh? Many products used in building are non-renewable. I think using non-renewables conservatively in sensible, attractive solutions that will last decades and decades and serve many, many people is an acceptable compromise until better solutions are developed. Maybe Polygal can be reclaimed from defunct greenhouses and the like. Maybe it can be made from plastic water bottles.

I think people who live in Polygal houses can throw stones: The stones bounce right off.

posted by fledgling on July 17th 2009 at 11:16am
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I wonder how this material would perform in less idyllic climates - I would love to open the back of my house to the yard this way, but living in the Pacific Northwest I'm not sure Polygal would stand up to, say, snow...

posted by FiatLex on July 17th 2009 at 12:44pm
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There was a post before mine that I was referring to. It's gone now.

posted by shaunon on July 17th 2009 at 9:31pm
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