Project Of The Week
Architecture
A Dated Home in the 'Burbs Gets a Luxurious New Addition
Lashings of light, space and exquisite detailing are the making of this newly extended Melbourne family home
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, architects Alison Dodds and Eve Edwards reveal how they reshaped a dark and stuffy two-bedroom, two-bathroom and one-powder room Edwardian house into a sophisticated, light-filled family abode with four bedrooms, two bathrooms and one powder room.
Shown here, beautiful silvertop ash detailing to the soffit (underside of the roof) linings
What was the house like originally?
A classic, heritage-listed single-story Edwardian house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, one powder room and a dated 1980s extension to the rear.
A classic, heritage-listed single-story Edwardian house with two bedrooms, two bathrooms, one powder room and a dated 1980s extension to the rear.
How long did the build take?
Thirteen months.
Picture Perfect: 37 Bohemian Spaces From Around the World
Thirteen months.
Picture Perfect: 37 Bohemian Spaces From Around the World
Floor plan of the new ground-floor layout
Floor plan showing the upper level of the new addition
What were the clients’ must-haves?
A desire to bring light and green glimpses inside. They also wanted to introduce a well-equipped wine room and a luxurious Apaiser freestanding Oman bath into the bathroom.
What were the clients’ must-haves?
A desire to bring light and green glimpses inside. They also wanted to introduce a well-equipped wine room and a luxurious Apaiser freestanding Oman bath into the bathroom.
Shown here, front of the original house with new landscaping
What did you do?
We demolished the existing rear addition and added a new, two-storey extension. The 125-square-metre ground-floor level houses a kitchen, dining room, living room, butler’s pantry, wine room, laundry and powder room. The 90-square-metre first-floor level has two new bedrooms, an ensuite and a teenager’s retreat.
We also added a new lock-up garage and landscaped the front and rear gardens.
We demolished the existing rear addition and added a new, two-storey extension. The 125-square-metre ground-floor level houses a kitchen, dining room, living room, butler’s pantry, wine room, laundry and powder room. The 90-square-metre first-floor level has two new bedrooms, an ensuite and a teenager’s retreat.
We also added a new lock-up garage and landscaped the front and rear gardens.
The new fireplace wall was lined with custom-sized Custom Chalford limestone tiles from Eco Outdoor to match the Custom Chalford limestone floor pavers
What constraints did this project address?
A dense band of cypress trees lined the eastern boundary, making the site extremely dark. This aspect prevented morning sunlight from entering the site and consequently, the house. The internal spaces lacked light and ventilation.
A dense band of cypress trees lined the eastern boundary, making the site extremely dark. This aspect prevented morning sunlight from entering the site and consequently, the house. The internal spaces lacked light and ventilation.
How does the new work address these constraints?
Removing the trees along the eastern boundary, in combination with opening up the whole central spine of the house, allowed us to bring massive amounts of natural light into the site and building and enliven the internal spaces with views of the garden.
See more minimalist, modern kitchens
Removing the trees along the eastern boundary, in combination with opening up the whole central spine of the house, allowed us to bring massive amounts of natural light into the site and building and enliven the internal spaces with views of the garden.
See more minimalist, modern kitchens
What challenges did you have to work around?
As you move towards the rear of the site, level changes presented challenges to our team and landscape designer, Ben Scott. Plus, ResCode prerequisites for side setback and needed amenity are often challenging on inner-suburban residential sites.
As you move towards the rear of the site, level changes presented challenges to our team and landscape designer, Ben Scott. Plus, ResCode prerequisites for side setback and needed amenity are often challenging on inner-suburban residential sites.
Shown here, a wall of built-in cabinetry in the teenager’s retreat
Where did most of the $1-$1.5 million budget go?
Cabinetry and landscaping.
Where did most of the $1-$1.5 million budget go?
Cabinetry and landscaping.
Shown here, the renovated formal room in the original house
How does the new addition sit with the original home?
A contemporary design with a restrained yet sophisticated material palette of locally made Robertson’s Krause Grampian Blue bricks and metallic cladding beautifully complements the original red brick and stucco house.
How does the new addition sit with the original home?
A contemporary design with a restrained yet sophisticated material palette of locally made Robertson’s Krause Grampian Blue bricks and metallic cladding beautifully complements the original red brick and stucco house.
Why do you think this project works?
Having the architecture and garden design evolve together was integral to the project’s success. The rear garden was designed to have a classic yet contemporary feel in order to work with a modern extension sitting beside an original Edwardian house.
Glimpses of the garden as you move through the house enrich the occupant’s experience.
Having the architecture and garden design evolve together was integral to the project’s success. The rear garden was designed to have a classic yet contemporary feel in order to work with a modern extension sitting beside an original Edwardian house.
Glimpses of the garden as you move through the house enrich the occupant’s experience.
Shown here, the master ensuite
Crucial to the success of the project was allowing pockets of light to flood the interiors – this key element really transformed the house.
We had the good fortune to work with clients who trusted our design eye and allowed the concept to unfold. The result is a home that is enriched by natural light, sophisticated materials and a sense of space.
Crucial to the success of the project was allowing pockets of light to flood the interiors – this key element really transformed the house.
We had the good fortune to work with clients who trusted our design eye and allowed the concept to unfold. The result is a home that is enriched by natural light, sophisticated materials and a sense of space.
Shown here, the master ensuite
Key features
Key features
- Extensive built-in storage.
- Large cavity sliding doors and generous door heights throughout.
- Pockets of natural light flood the interiors via centrally placed skylights.
- Material palette that celebrates the locally made, such as Robertson’s Krause Grampian Blue bricks and Eco Outdoor Chalford Limestone wall and floors.
- Vistas and glimpses to the garden from the north-facing living spaces and as you move through the house.
Shown here, the new upstairs ensuite
Materials palette
Materials palette
- Limestone floors in the new living room, dining room, kitchen and pantry: Eco Outdoor Custom Chalford limestone pavers.
- Timber floors in the original formal room, new wine room and staircase: Royal Oak Floors Holly Oak timber floors in Tudor Brown.
- Kitchen benchtop: Dekton Solid Collection in Domoos colour with an eight-millimetre edge.
- Kitchen cabinetry: Polytec Woodmatt in Empire Oak finish.
- Library cabinetry: Polytec Evolution Black Wenge in Ravine colour.
- Bathroom and ensuite wall and floor finishes: Geostsone Grigio in Natural Tortora (available at Classic Ceramics).
- External cladding: Robertson’s Krause Grampian Blue bricks.
- Colorbond Diversaclad in Metallic Celestian colourway.
Tell us
Do you love this elegant addition as much as we do? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Enjoyed this story? Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week: An Artful Extension Breathes New Life Into a Heritage Home
Do you love this elegant addition as much as we do? Tell us your favourite features in the Comments. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
Enjoyed this story? Don’t miss last week’s Project of the Week: An Artful Extension Breathes New Life Into a Heritage Home
Answers by architects Alison Dodds and Eve Edwards at Alison Dodds Architect
Who lives here: A couple with one child
Location: Armadale, Victoria
Original size: 218 square metres
Size after extension: 363 square metres (including new garage)
Budget: $1 million to $1.5 million
Gained: A new, two-storey addition housing an open-plan kitchen, living room and dining room, butler’s pantry, wine room, laundry and powder room on the 125-square-metre ground-floor level; and two new bedrooms, an ensuite and a teenager’s retreat on the 90-square-metre first-floor. Plus, fully landscaped front and rear gardens and a lock-up garage
Architect: Alison Dodds Architect
Builder: Clancy Constructions
Structural engineer: Garry MacDonald at Meyer Consulting Structural and Civil Engineers
Landscape design: Ben Scott at Ben Scott Garden Design
Styling: Bek Sheppard