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Houzz Tour: A Mid-Century Makeover Honours its Legendary Designer
The owners of this mid-century classic brought it up-to-date while staying faithful to its impressive provenance
Architecture and football are rarely thought of as complementary disciplines, but they were the two passions of Melbourne architect and Essendon AFL player John Edward “Jack” Clarke (1933-2001) – a Hall of Fame legend to all fans of the game. He ascribed his on-field prowess to the creativity of his architectural background.
In the ’50s and ’60s he worked closely with the visionary Australian architect, Robin Boyd, managing the ground-breaking Small Homes Service, which pioneered the ‘five quid’ house plan and brought affordable housing to post-war Melbourne. He was a founding member of ClarkeHopkinsClarke, an architectural practice that continues to influence much of Melbourne’s urban, commercial and educational design. In 1962, Clarke designed a home in Frankston, a south Melbourne suburb. This is its story.
In the ’50s and ’60s he worked closely with the visionary Australian architect, Robin Boyd, managing the ground-breaking Small Homes Service, which pioneered the ‘five quid’ house plan and brought affordable housing to post-war Melbourne. He was a founding member of ClarkeHopkinsClarke, an architectural practice that continues to influence much of Melbourne’s urban, commercial and educational design. In 1962, Clarke designed a home in Frankston, a south Melbourne suburb. This is its story.
Image: ClarkeHopkinsClarke
Antony Martin of MRTN Architects led the project and believes Jack Clarke (top left with the ClarkeHopkinsClarke team) was inspired by the elegant images of American photographer Julius Shulman. Shulman extensively recorded Californian and West Coast architecture in mid-century America, a time considered the heyday of the style.
“Central to our conceptual framework was the formulation of a narrative for the original home,” says Martin. He sought to re-imagine it through the lens of Shulman’s camera and the source images that no doubt influenced Clarke.
Antony Martin of MRTN Architects led the project and believes Jack Clarke (top left with the ClarkeHopkinsClarke team) was inspired by the elegant images of American photographer Julius Shulman. Shulman extensively recorded Californian and West Coast architecture in mid-century America, a time considered the heyday of the style.
“Central to our conceptual framework was the formulation of a narrative for the original home,” says Martin. He sought to re-imagine it through the lens of Shulman’s camera and the source images that no doubt influenced Clarke.
Image: MRTN Architects
A growing trend in mid-century design was to reconsider the idea that a house should sit squarely on a site, facing the street. Clarke’s design illustrates this concept. He placed the building at 45 degrees on the block, creating more northern exposure and presenting an atypical face to the street. Martin capitalised on this orientation and manipulated the internal layout to enhance it.
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A growing trend in mid-century design was to reconsider the idea that a house should sit squarely on a site, facing the street. Clarke’s design illustrates this concept. He placed the building at 45 degrees on the block, creating more northern exposure and presenting an atypical face to the street. Martin capitalised on this orientation and manipulated the internal layout to enhance it.
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Only minor changes were made to the outward appearance of the house. An alteration compatible with the original objective, but which added significantly to the interior function, was a subtle remodel of the roof pitch. Ceiling height was only 2.2 metres at the lowest point. “By redesigning the roof, we were able to address ceiling heights and water tightness. We like to think it has been done in a way that is indistinct from the original intent,” says Martin.
Overall, the footprint was only increased by six square metres, with a minor gain in bedroom sizes and the addition of an ensuite. Martin highly commends the owners for prioritising the renovation of the original home over the enlargement of the floor area.
Overall, the footprint was only increased by six square metres, with a minor gain in bedroom sizes and the addition of an ensuite. Martin highly commends the owners for prioritising the renovation of the original home over the enlargement of the floor area.
In true mid-century style, floor-to-ceiling windows and large-scale glass panels create visual indoor/outdoor flow. Martin says having a builder supportive of preserving as much of the original fabric of the house as practical was an advantage. Among repurposed materials, the original south-facing window frames were saved and re-used.
‘Hit-and-miss’ was a popular brick-laying pattern of the era. Strategically removing bricks from a wall lets natural light penetrate the unfilled spaces and adds depth, contrast and texture to plain expanses of brickwork.
The ‘hit-and-miss’ brick-laying technique used for the exterior walls of the new ensuite highlights the subtle neutral palette and mosaic tiles chosen for the space. Not merely a decorative flourish, it also provides a privacy screen while allowing pleasing dappled light and a glimpse of the garden into the space.
The new ensuite has a neutral but highly textural palette.
Bricks, in the warm red-brown tones characteristic of mid-century suburban homes, have been used extensively inside and out in this home. Many were salvaged from the original building and augmented with the most closely matched bricks available.
Mid-century decades saw suburban Australians hitting the outdoors in response to a growing spirit of optimism and informality after the strictures of wartime. The great Aussie ‘barbie’ came into its own and outdoor entertaining spaces were almost mandatory for new homes.
The owners now enjoy a sun-filled terrace, with crazy paving and a pergola. Lightly constructed moveable indoor/outdoor furniture, such as the iconic Butterfly Chair, emerged in this period and the owners chose vibrant orange for theirs, a colour that marked mid-century palettes.
Browse more terraces inspired by mid-century design
The owners now enjoy a sun-filled terrace, with crazy paving and a pergola. Lightly constructed moveable indoor/outdoor furniture, such as the iconic Butterfly Chair, emerged in this period and the owners chose vibrant orange for theirs, a colour that marked mid-century palettes.
Browse more terraces inspired by mid-century design
As Australians relaxed into a lifestyle with more leisure time, gardens became places to spend time in, rather than showpieces to be looked at. Informal layouts, restrained palettes, low-maintenance plantings with occasional feature plants and natural hard landscaping materials were core factors of this movement.
A key element of Martin’s design process was working closely with SBLA landscape architects. “They adopted and developed our reference of mid-century Californian homes into the landscape design and integration of the outdoor living areas we were designing,” says Martin.
A key element of Martin’s design process was working closely with SBLA landscape architects. “They adopted and developed our reference of mid-century Californian homes into the landscape design and integration of the outdoor living areas we were designing,” says Martin.
The landscaping encompassed many of these references, with grasses, such as fountain grass (Pennisetum), mother-in-law’s tongue (Sanservieria trifasciata), agave, the giant sculptural leaves of split-leaf philodendrons (Monstera deliciosa) and tiny textural ground covers such as Dichondria argentea. Weathered corten steel edging, feature rocks, pebbles and gravel unify the garden layout.
Martin was familiar with the high esteem attached to Clarke’s name and was able to study the original plans and finishes schedule. They show a living wing to the north housing the kitchen, dining and living spaces, a bedroom wing to the south and a services core of laundry, bathroom and storage located between these wings. “We very consciously retained the plan diagram basis in developing the design,” he says.
The kitchen was an important component, as the client is an ex-chef. Orientating the cooking and dining areas to the north, installing a highly functional kitchen and creating a physical outdoor connection met the owners’ requirements perfectly.
Image: Dave Kulesza, styling Bea & Co
The materials palette of mid-century homes has been evoked throughout this house. The original home had a fairly low-key and utilitarian colour and materials palette. “We upgraded the interior finishes to allow the house to be completed in the way that would have been originally intended if the materials or budget allowed,” says Martin. The result is an interior more aligned to the Julius Shulman images that influenced Clarke.
“The floor tiles in particular are a beautiful kiln-fired terracotta. No two are the same and they really introduce richness to the house,” says Martin. “They became the base upon which we developed the palette.” American walnut veneer, cedar lining boards and warm coral carpet were selected for their nostalgic connection to the period.
The materials palette of mid-century homes has been evoked throughout this house. The original home had a fairly low-key and utilitarian colour and materials palette. “We upgraded the interior finishes to allow the house to be completed in the way that would have been originally intended if the materials or budget allowed,” says Martin. The result is an interior more aligned to the Julius Shulman images that influenced Clarke.
“The floor tiles in particular are a beautiful kiln-fired terracotta. No two are the same and they really introduce richness to the house,” says Martin. “They became the base upon which we developed the palette.” American walnut veneer, cedar lining boards and warm coral carpet were selected for their nostalgic connection to the period.
Image: Dave Kulesza, styling Bea & Co
The minimally modified floor plan enables all the rooms to open to the outside areas. Single-glazed windows and almost non-existent insulation were significant factors to be addressed for greater comfort and thermal efficiency. Martin believes this invisible upgrading was probably the most important change made to the house.
Mirror: Anderssen & Voll for Muuto; Ditzel ND83 Chair: Great Dane Furniture
The minimally modified floor plan enables all the rooms to open to the outside areas. Single-glazed windows and almost non-existent insulation were significant factors to be addressed for greater comfort and thermal efficiency. Martin believes this invisible upgrading was probably the most important change made to the house.
Mirror: Anderssen & Voll for Muuto; Ditzel ND83 Chair: Great Dane Furniture
A recurrent theme in Martin’s comments is how the owners ‘got’ the significance of preserving the mid-century spirit, while understanding how it could be incorporated into a home for a 21st-century family. This is borne out in their choice of lighting and furnishing.
A George Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant light floats in the living room, while a Klassik Sofa by Great Dane Furniture and Orsjo Vinge Table Lamp express the mid-century ambience the owners set out to retain.
A George Nelson Saucer Bubble pendant light floats in the living room, while a Klassik Sofa by Great Dane Furniture and Orsjo Vinge Table Lamp express the mid-century ambience the owners set out to retain.
An iconic Eames lounge chair and ottoman nod to the home’s mid-century roots.
A Bonderup & Thorup Semi Pendant light hangs over a sleek dining setting from Great Dane. Martin admires the owners’ selection of mid-century classic designs along with some contemporary pieces “that resonate with the mid-century design legacy, creating a wonderful interplay of old and new”.
The remodelled main bathroom is an elegant showpiece with mint-green penny-round mosaic tiles lining the bath and green-veined marble bench. A skylight enhances the translucence and textures of this cool restful and space.
INAX tiles: Artedomus
INAX tiles: Artedomus
Image: Dave Kulesza, styling Bea & Co
Martin says that saving the house was the most significant objective of the project. “Outwardly, the home is virtually unchanged and internally one is left wondering where the old ends and the new begins.”
In awarding the 2020 John and Phyllis Murphy Victorian Architecture prize for home alterations and additions the judges commended “the delightful tweaking … on a house designed by John Clarke through the Small Homes Service,” and MRTN’s sympathetic and restrained renovation.
The owners love “the familiarity reminiscent of the modest yet welcoming family homes of our suburban childhoods, capturing all that made the ’burbs great”.
Martin says that saving the house was the most significant objective of the project. “Outwardly, the home is virtually unchanged and internally one is left wondering where the old ends and the new begins.”
In awarding the 2020 John and Phyllis Murphy Victorian Architecture prize for home alterations and additions the judges commended “the delightful tweaking … on a house designed by John Clarke through the Small Homes Service,” and MRTN’s sympathetic and restrained renovation.
The owners love “the familiarity reminiscent of the modest yet welcoming family homes of our suburban childhoods, capturing all that made the ’burbs great”.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature of this home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more great design? Check out this USA Houzz Tour: A Chic, Comfortable Florida Flat With Ocean Views
What’s your favourite feature of this home? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more great design? Check out this USA Houzz Tour: A Chic, Comfortable Florida Flat With Ocean Views
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A young professional couple working in education and their child
Location: Frankston, Victoria
Size: Three bedrooms, two bathrooms
Architecture and design: MRTN Architects
Landscaping: SBLA Landscape Architecture & Urban Design
Builder: Saltwater Design & Building Management
The owners lived in the house for over 50 years until its recent sale. During their tenure, very little was changed, making it one of the increasingly scarce Melbourne homes to retain authentic mid-century character, albeit in need of restoration. The new owners and MRTN Architects committed to rescuing this gem, and created a fresh and comfortable family home with its mid-century soul beautifully intact.