North Fitzroy is one of the remaining areas in Melbourne where the original housing stock from the mid to late 1800’s is still largely intact. The owner of this modest single fronted workers cottage was sitting on a potential gold mine, in terms of property value and potential for improvement, but in the current state, the cottage was starting to fall down around his ears.

The decision to repair the existing structure and fabric of the home as well as renovate and extend to make this a comfortable, family home was made, and so the task to preserve the original while bringing the home up to modern standards was undertaken.

From the street frontage, the existing façade was to remain – albeit with a new strength and looking as shiney and crisp as a new shirt. Substantial underpinning was required to the remaining part of the home in order to reinforce the original foundations of the home. The double storey extension sits neatly into the rear of the home, and the ground floor extension opens the dark cottage up, revealing a light filled, open plan living space.