Project Of The Week
Architecture
Renovating
A Family's Heritage House Comes of Age as an Entertainer's Home
When extending this period home, a strict heritage overlay meant both sensitivity and creativity were called for
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation or extension each week. Here, Simon Castle, architect and managing director at Architest, reveals how he transformed a cramped three-bedroom, one-bathroom, post-World War II home. Gone is the dated interior and in its place is a spacious entertainer’s delight with four bedrooms and 3.5 bathrooms – and all despite a strict heritage overlay that forbade any changes to the facade or roofline.
Gained: On the ground floor, a new entertainer’s kitchen, butler’s pantry, wine cellar, open-plan living and dining area, study, powder room, laundry, and a master suite with a walk-through wardrobe. A new second storey houses three bedrooms, two bathrooms, a teenagers’ retreat and a study nook. Outside is a new outdoor entertaining area, swimming pool and double garage.
What was the house like originally?
A single-level, post-World War II house made from clinker bricks (characterised by their vibrant red mottled with deep blue). The interior housed three bedrooms, one bathroom and a small kitchen and living room.
Here’s another ideas-packed reno of a mid-century home
A single-level, post-World War II house made from clinker bricks (characterised by their vibrant red mottled with deep blue). The interior housed three bedrooms, one bathroom and a small kitchen and living room.
Here’s another ideas-packed reno of a mid-century home
How did the heritage overlay affect the new design?
The heritage overlay was specific to the facade of the property, so nothing we designed could be visible from the street. This meant that the existing roofline had to conceal any renovation works.
The heritage overlay was specific to the facade of the property, so nothing we designed could be visible from the street. This meant that the existing roofline had to conceal any renovation works.
What was your brief?
The clients wanted to create an open-plan, entertainer’s home for a large family, working within the restrictions of a very tight heritage overlay.
Not sure what questions to ask your architect? Find out here
The clients wanted to create an open-plan, entertainer’s home for a large family, working within the restrictions of a very tight heritage overlay.
Not sure what questions to ask your architect? Find out here
The original living room at the front of the house, which is now the master bedroom
What were the clients’ must-haves?
What were the clients’ must-haves?
- A large master suite with a generous walk-through ’robe.
- Indoor-outdoor connection.
- A large butler’s pantry with a walk-in cellar.
The original bedroom at the front of the house, which is now a formal sitting room
The original sitting room, which is now part of the laundry and butler’s pantry
Shown here, the view from the street
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Due to the nature of the heritage overlay, we had to maintain the existing facade, which included the dining and sitting rooms at the front of the house. These rooms were repurposed to become a master bedroom with a walk-through ’robe and ensuite.
- The original bedroom at the front of the house was turned into a formal sitting room.
Original floor plan
- We rebuilt and extended the rear of the ground floor to include a huge entertainer’s kitchen and open-plan living and dining areas, a new butler’s pantry, walk-in wine cellar, laundry, powder room and study.
- We added a new outdoor entertaining area with a kitchen and double-height ceiling, and a new pool, garage and landscaping.
- We added a new second storey that was concealed from the street to comply with heritage-overlay regulations. It included three new bedrooms, two bathrooms, and a teenagers’ retreat with a study nook.
New ground-floor level
How would you describe the new addition?
A contemporary but complementary addition to a period home.
Want to bring your period property up to date? Find a local architect who’s familiar with your area’s heritage regulations here
How would you describe the new addition?
A contemporary but complementary addition to a period home.
Want to bring your period property up to date? Find a local architect who’s familiar with your area’s heritage regulations here
New upper level
How did you add a second level without affecting the heritage overlay?
We pushed the new second storey to the rear of the property so it was concealed behind the existing roofline.
How did you add a second level without affecting the heritage overlay?
We pushed the new second storey to the rear of the property so it was concealed behind the existing roofline.
What challenges did you have to work around?
There were several restrictions that were imposed by the heritage overlay, which meant that nothing we designed could be visible from the street. The other issue was a large water easement running across the back of the property that restricted landscaping, the pool and the installation of the double-car garage.
There were several restrictions that were imposed by the heritage overlay, which meant that nothing we designed could be visible from the street. The other issue was a large water easement running across the back of the property that restricted landscaping, the pool and the installation of the double-car garage.
What was the budget?
Approximately $900,000.
Approximately $900,000.
The entrance features dark-stained French oak parquet floors and a new feature staircase
Where did most of the budget go?
To the ornate ceilings and plaster mouldings.
Where did most of the budget go?
To the ornate ceilings and plaster mouldings.
With limited outdoor space, the concrete pool was installed right beside the new garage, while soft plantings create a privacy screen from neighbouring properties
How did you communicate the look and feel of the proposed design to your clients?
We built a full-scale model of both levels of the house in our Abbotsford warehouse that the clients were able to walk through. This gave them the opportunity to interact with the spaces and tweak the design before construction started. We are the only architectural firm in Australia to offer this service.
How did you communicate the look and feel of the proposed design to your clients?
We built a full-scale model of both levels of the house in our Abbotsford warehouse that the clients were able to walk through. This gave them the opportunity to interact with the spaces and tweak the design before construction started. We are the only architectural firm in Australia to offer this service.
Why do you think this extension works well?
Delivering to a substantial brief within the restrictions of a heritage overlay can be challenging, but I think our design has achieved it. The clients wanted wow-factor and a large entertaining zone; by creating generous open-plan spaces and integrating the indoor zones with outdoor entertaining we have done just that.
Planning with the clients and understanding their family’s habits and how they like to relax and entertain allowed us to better deliver a product suited to their lifestyle.
Delivering to a substantial brief within the restrictions of a heritage overlay can be challenging, but I think our design has achieved it. The clients wanted wow-factor and a large entertaining zone; by creating generous open-plan spaces and integrating the indoor zones with outdoor entertaining we have done just that.
Planning with the clients and understanding their family’s habits and how they like to relax and entertain allowed us to better deliver a product suited to their lifestyle.
Polished-concrete floors create a smooth transition between the floating deck and the pool area
Having seperate zones for kids, adults, entertaining and studying has given the family a home that suits all their current and future needs. The new outdoor entertaining area, with double-height ceilings and an alfresco kitchen, further increases the space.
Having seperate zones for kids, adults, entertaining and studying has given the family a home that suits all their current and future needs. The new outdoor entertaining area, with double-height ceilings and an alfresco kitchen, further increases the space.
Huge stacking aluminium doors slide into a wall cavity to create a smooth transition between the kitchen and the outdoor entertaining zone. Marble-look sheeting is used in both areas to reinforce the connection
How does the new design complement the original home?
We incorporated many of the original period features of the property into the new design and restored many as well, such as the roof domes, street-facing windows and entrance.
There is a natural stepping-off point where old meets new, but with new floors throughout and sympathetic finishes to the front of the house, we have created a soft transition between the two.
How does the new design complement the original home?
We incorporated many of the original period features of the property into the new design and restored many as well, such as the roof domes, street-facing windows and entrance.
There is a natural stepping-off point where old meets new, but with new floors throughout and sympathetic finishes to the front of the house, we have created a soft transition between the two.
The new kids’ bathroom
Key features
Key features
- Smooth indoor-outdoor flow.
- A generous new entertaining area with a new kitchen, living and dining areas, and an outdoor entertaining zone.
- Double-height ceilings in entertaining areas create wow-factor.
- Separate zones for the teenagers, adults and for entertaining.
The new master bedroom
Materials palette
Materials palette
- The heritage overlay meant there were many limitations regarding the facade’s materials. We kept to the existing face brickwork and stucco render, but these were simplified to the rear. This maintained a sense of consistency between the old and new parts of the house.
- Dark-stained French oak parquet floors.
- Marble-look Dekton ultra-compact surface on kitchen island and indoor and outdoor kitchen splashbacks.
The new walk-through wardrobe in the master suite
Tell us
What do you love about this renovation and extension? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
If you want to see other innovative renovating ideas check out this story: A Modest Cottage on a Narrow Site Gets an Ingenious Addition
Tell us
What do you love about this renovation and extension? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save your favourite images, and join the conversation.
More
If you want to see other innovative renovating ideas check out this story: A Modest Cottage on a Narrow Site Gets an Ingenious Addition
Answers by Simon Castle, managing director at Architest
Who lives here: A couple with two teenage children and a dog
Location: Camberwell, Victoria
Original size: 184 square metres
Size after extension: 407 square metres
Architect: Architest
Builder: DJ Knoop Building Services