Before & After: A Victorian Terrace Reimagined Through Purpose
This modest single-fronted Victorian terrace in Fitzroy North sits comfortably within a familiar streetscape defined by wrought iron fencing and period fretwork. Yet beyond, accessed via a bluestone laneway, the project reveals a markedly different condition: a sculptural, curved black brick wall that responds directly to an unusual title geometry.
The site’s curved boundary became both constraint and opportunity. Rather than resist it, the design embraces the anomaly, informing both the planning logic and the architectural language of what became known as Turn House.
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Before
After
Client Brief
The clients approached the project with clarity and restraint. Unlike many terrace renovations, expansion was not the objective.
They had explored options for a first-floor addition but ultimately rejected this approach. The brief prioritised quality over quantity: no additional bedrooms, no accommodation for future growth, and no concession to resale-driven decision making.
Instead, the focus was on:
- A highly resolved kitchen tailored to specific culinary practices
- Spaces for entertaining without compromising functional privacy
- A home designed explicitly for long-term personal use
The level of detail in the brief was exceptional, extending to a comprehensive inventory of kitchen equipment and storage requirements.
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Design Approach
The design is grounded in a precise response to both client behaviour and site conditions.
The curved rear boundary informed a corresponding architectural move. Most notably, the black brick courtyard wall encloses and shapes the northern outdoor space. This geometry is echoed internally, softening transitions and improving light penetration.
Material contrast plays a critical role:
- Black brick externally to define the enclosure and form
- White brick internally to amplify light and reflectivity
- Steel and glass elements to mediate threshold conditions
Large-format glazing, including operable highlight windows, supports passive environmental control by enabling cross ventilation and heat purging.
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Kitchen as Primary Program
The kitchen operates as the conceptual and functional core of the project.
Rather than a conventional open-plan arrangement, the kitchen is deliberately positioned as a working environment distinct from, yet connected to, adjacent living spaces.
Key features include:
- Dual material work zones: stainless steel for precision cooking and timber with marble inset for pastry and chocolate work
- A fully plumbed, dedicated coffee station
- Extensive, custom joinery designed to accommodate a highly specific equipment brief
Importantly, the kitchen is not designed for display. It is intentionally shielded from direct engagement by guests, reinforcing its role as a private, operational space.
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Spatial Organisation
The project challenges the typical delineation of rooms found in terrace renovations.
Instead, spaces are deliberately blurred:
- Elements such as the refrigerator straddle zones, contributing to a sense of overlap rather than separation
- Joinery extends beyond the kitchen into living areas, creating continuity of language and function
- Visual connections are prioritised without compromising spatial hierarchy
This approach results in a house that feels cohesive rather than segmented.
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Before
Material and Detail Resolution
The project is underpinned by a high level of material discipline and detailing.
- Polished concrete floors with hydronic heating provide thermal comfort and durability
- European Oak timber shelving is supported by brass rods, introducing a fine-grain layer of craft
- Joinery is bespoke throughout, resolving both storage and spatial integration
Each element is considered not only for its aesthetic contribution but for its long-term performance.
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Environmental Performance
A key outcome of the design is the transformation of the home’s relationship to light.
Where many Victorian terraces turn inward and away from northern exposure, this project actively captures it:
- The courtyard draws light deep into the plan
- Glazing strategies maximise solar access while enabling ventilation
- Outdoor and indoor spaces are tightly integrated to support seasonal use
The result is a house that performs as a suntrap in its primary living zones.
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The Result
This project is not an exercise in maximisation. It is an exercise in precision.
The house retains its modest footprint and original typology, yet operates entirely differently, supporting a highly specific way of living. Every decision is anchored in function, from the kitchen planning to the environmental strategy. The outcome is a deeply personal home: one that prioritises use over display, longevity over resale, and clarity over excess.
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