This original 1980’s brick veneer residence in Broadbeach on the Gold Coast has been transformed into a stylish coastal Hamptons inspired family home.
Once, small, dark rooms have been opened to a large raking roof structure exposed that allows light and sea breezes to flow into the home.
Challenge
Often a big challenge with a renovation is ensuring the original structure, including its footings, timber framing and structural bracing have the capacity to withstand any additional loads. As our first job, we check the existing structure and often need to design new structures to ensure the newly anticipated loads are accounted for.
This project required strengthening of the existing footings and new footings were designed to ensure there was minimal differential settlement between the old and new structure.
Solutions
By accurately modelling all of the existing structural components and then incorporating the new elements into our model. we were able to see the impact additional design loads might have on existing members. Although this process can take a little longer, it ensures we’re 100% satisfied that we’re not overdesigning the new structure and maximising the capacity of existing members.
We were able to minimise differential settlement through the use of light weight screw piers that were founded at just over 5m below the footings. This embedded the foundations into a very firm sand. Because the existing foundation had already undergone both short term & long-term settlement over the past 40 years, the inclusion of screw piers under the new foundations will eliminate any problems with differential settlement.
Another seamless design with the NGS team. We achieved all of the client’s design requests with some great structural solutions.
Architect
