A grand house in the heart of Northbridge is transformed into a new home for a small growing family. The design is influenced both by the Federation bones of the house as well as the Mediterranean reinterpretations of houses that typify the street. A concrete canopy on clustered columns references the Italian influences, whist within the house the original fireplaces have been incorporated into the replanned bathrooms and en suite. The extension is a contrast of dark chocolate bricks with bold colours and marble surfaces. Timber windows and doors are housed in aluminium framing, further referencing this marriage of design influences.
A concrete roof deck with expansive city views is access through a white painted steel gate via a garden framed plunge pool. Timber lattice work on the desk encourages a young grape vine with promises of the shade to come. The brick joints are raked and the walls left unfinished to create texture and depth internally. A small circular window is formed in the rigid rectilinear form to create contrasts and soften the form.
Connection between inside and outside is critical in this design with the narrow external areas borrowing from the open internal areas and the internal spaces borrowing from the external.