Sometimes it’s easier to start fresh, rather than adding to a classic design. Other times, with the right approach, an alteration or addition can successfully reinvent (or at least reinterpret) the wheel.

Take the Dover House in Queensland, for example. The project, designed by Shaun Lockyer Architects, involved the fusion of a traditional Queenslander with a concrete garden room.

The existing timber dwelling remains at the front of the site, while the concrete addition sits at the rear and out to the sides.

This new extension accommodates a living and dining area equipped with a barbeque. An outdoor fireplace is also contained within the new build, which the architects say, “creates sense of occasion whilst simultaneously punctuating the connection of house and garden”.

Through large outdoor curtains, the indoor-meets-outdoor space opens to the rear lawn which features a pool, cricket pitch and basketball/handball court.

Though the project has incorporated timber and tin where it related to the existing home, the concrete structure creates a stark contrast.

“The project explores an eclectic mix of materials including concrete, timber, and encaustic tiles and wallpaper, which brings a unique personality to the revitalisation of this family’s home,” explains the architects.

Linking the two forms, however, is an extruded section of the pitched roof that forms a portal to the backyard.

Throughout Dover House, natural light and ventilation is maximised through louvre windows, skylights and large sliding doors.