Houzz Tour: The Friendliest Inner-City Cottage in Melbourne
A bland brick expanse at the street-side of a corner house has become a very cool local landmark – all it took was a simple thought
Houzz AU
11 February 2015
Everyday building materials have been turned into something head-spinning in the extension and renovation of a quaint Victorian-era home, in Melbourne’s Richmond. While raised brickwork is nothing new, using it to send a friendly greeting to all who pass by is what puts this renovation firmly into the category of unique. And very funkily so.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Artist Therese and partner James, a community culture specialist
Location: Richmond, in Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 139sqm on a 180sqm corner block; 2 bedrooms, studio
Era built: Victorian era
That’s Interesting: In-slab hydronic heating was used in the extension
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: Artist Therese and partner James, a community culture specialist
Location: Richmond, in Melbourne, Victoria
Size: 139sqm on a 180sqm corner block; 2 bedrooms, studio
Era built: Victorian era
That’s Interesting: In-slab hydronic heating was used in the extension
The Hello House could have been a typical inward looking Victorian home with the usual modern rear extension. Therese and James, however, were interested in the idea that their project should be more than just a private home.
“With this house, because it’s on the corner and there’s a cafe opposite, the whole neighbourhood walks past it on their way to the cafe,” says architect Fooi-Ling Khoo of OOF! Architecture. “The clients were fantastic because they understood that it was like a little village and really wanted to do something that contributed to that mini civic centre. They understood that their house wasn’t just a private house, it was, in a way, talking to the neighbours as well.” Rather than blending in blandly to the neighbourhood, the Hello House is a slightly loud but friendly new face in the street.
Pressed brick: Bowral Bricks in ‘Charolais Cream’
“With this house, because it’s on the corner and there’s a cafe opposite, the whole neighbourhood walks past it on their way to the cafe,” says architect Fooi-Ling Khoo of OOF! Architecture. “The clients were fantastic because they understood that it was like a little village and really wanted to do something that contributed to that mini civic centre. They understood that their house wasn’t just a private house, it was, in a way, talking to the neighbours as well.” Rather than blending in blandly to the neighbourhood, the Hello House is a slightly loud but friendly new face in the street.
Pressed brick: Bowral Bricks in ‘Charolais Cream’
The building was originally a corner shop with small living quarters behind. It suffered the common problems of old properties – dark interiors and poor access to outdoor spaces.
The building’s former 40 square metre of well out-dated tack-on additions, was replaced with a more accommodating 63 square metre addition.
The ‘Hello’ addition made room for the architect to reshuffle the original living spaces – and the bathroom and laundry add-ons that had developed over the generations – without reference to past use.
The front room on the corner used to serve as the home’s main living area. Post-renovation, it’s a workshop/studio for the owners. The two bedrooms remain largely untouched in the original part of the home.
The building’s former 40 square metre of well out-dated tack-on additions, was replaced with a more accommodating 63 square metre addition.
The ‘Hello’ addition made room for the architect to reshuffle the original living spaces – and the bathroom and laundry add-ons that had developed over the generations – without reference to past use.
The front room on the corner used to serve as the home’s main living area. Post-renovation, it’s a workshop/studio for the owners. The two bedrooms remain largely untouched in the original part of the home.
The wall sits just to the right of the home’s main entrance, and was designed in collaboration with Melbourne artist Rose Nolan.
“The thought was that we would contribute something to the surrounding ‘brickness and blockness’ of the area,” Khoo says. Khoo, the owners, and Nolan started off thinking it could be a beautiful brick or block, with a colour or glazed brick, “but it just didn’t quite cut it.”
They then considered the idea of introducing textured brick work, which led to a discussion around what that pattern could be – could it be an image or could it actually be words that say something? “Then Rose Nolan suggested ‘hello’.”
“The thought was that we would contribute something to the surrounding ‘brickness and blockness’ of the area,” Khoo says. Khoo, the owners, and Nolan started off thinking it could be a beautiful brick or block, with a colour or glazed brick, “but it just didn’t quite cut it.”
They then considered the idea of introducing textured brick work, which led to a discussion around what that pattern could be – could it be an image or could it actually be words that say something? “Then Rose Nolan suggested ‘hello’.”
“Nolan’s obsession with text and hand-crafting low-tech materials has huge resonance with our love of modest materials and how they can be transformed,” says Khoo. “The moment she suggested the word ‘hello’, we knew it was the missing piece of the puzzle we’d been looking for.”
Rather than using the house as a tool to shut themselves off, the owners thought it could be a way to be part of the village they loved.
The wall, literally representing the start of a conversation, greets the locals while also continuing the architectural story of the area. Richmond is home to a mix of 19th century heritage buildings, ’60s and ’70s brick apartment blocks, as well as small warehouses and a few more modern architectural gems. Getting council permission to make such a contemporary statement was a lengthy process, “but understandable considering the heritage of the area,” Khoo says.
“The owners feel it has made a friendly neighbourhood even friendlier,” Khoo says. Locals bring visitors by for a look, and cries of “hello” can occasionally be heard at night. “One neighbour even thanked them for their generosity.”
Blockwork: Boral designer block in ‘Smooth Face Charcoal’
Rather than using the house as a tool to shut themselves off, the owners thought it could be a way to be part of the village they loved.
The wall, literally representing the start of a conversation, greets the locals while also continuing the architectural story of the area. Richmond is home to a mix of 19th century heritage buildings, ’60s and ’70s brick apartment blocks, as well as small warehouses and a few more modern architectural gems. Getting council permission to make such a contemporary statement was a lengthy process, “but understandable considering the heritage of the area,” Khoo says.
“The owners feel it has made a friendly neighbourhood even friendlier,” Khoo says. Locals bring visitors by for a look, and cries of “hello” can occasionally be heard at night. “One neighbour even thanked them for their generosity.”
Blockwork: Boral designer block in ‘Smooth Face Charcoal’
A small courtyard separates the front door from the security gate opening to the street.
From the backyard, tall windows reveal the home’s open-plan kitchen/dining area within. Materials such as plywood, brickwork and industrial trusses have been used with purpose – the owners, who both work in the arts industry, didn’t want to live in a “shiny, blingy” environment.
“They shared our love of modest, everyday materials,” Khoo says. “One of the things with this house is that while we may have spent more money on things like the ‘hello’ wall and joinery, it wasn’t a question of buying flashy, shiny materials and expensive designer furniture,” Khoo says.
Doors and timber-framed double glazed windows: Aspect Windows; double glazed sashless windows: Aneeta Windows
“They shared our love of modest, everyday materials,” Khoo says. “One of the things with this house is that while we may have spent more money on things like the ‘hello’ wall and joinery, it wasn’t a question of buying flashy, shiny materials and expensive designer furniture,” Khoo says.
Doors and timber-framed double glazed windows: Aspect Windows; double glazed sashless windows: Aneeta Windows
Smart floor-to-ceiling cupboards and shelving face the front door as you enter the home, and actually conceal the home’s laundry behind closed doors.
Khoo says the choice of well-priced plain materials, such as plywood and industrial trusses, made room in the budget for custom-designed cabinetry. “We used commonly available materials, but paid skilled people to put in the extra time and thought to treat the materials with craft,” she says. “So there was an investment in ideas and craft rather than ‘stuff’,” she says.
Open web trusses: Hopleys
Khoo says the choice of well-priced plain materials, such as plywood and industrial trusses, made room in the budget for custom-designed cabinetry. “We used commonly available materials, but paid skilled people to put in the extra time and thought to treat the materials with craft,” she says. “So there was an investment in ideas and craft rather than ‘stuff’,” she says.
Open web trusses: Hopleys
The cabinetry continues along from the entry to the wall facing the living area and then on into the kitchen.
Electric oven: Siemens; gas stove and dishwasher: Miele; rangehood: Sirius; fridge: Fisher & Paykel; toughened bronze mirror backsplash; custom precast concrete countertop: Concrete Blonde on custom fabricated steel frame
Electric oven: Siemens; gas stove and dishwasher: Miele; rangehood: Sirius; fridge: Fisher & Paykel; toughened bronze mirror backsplash; custom precast concrete countertop: Concrete Blonde on custom fabricated steel frame
A dining table and island stools have been added to the home since it was photographed – the home isn’t huge, but the polished concrete floor and high ceilings make the open-plan kitchen/living/dining area feel spacious.
Ceiling in hoop pine plywood with clear satin gloss seal; polished concrete floor in ‘Atlantic Ocean’ in Off-White Base: Economix; Edwardstown ‘Studio’ wool carpet; refurbished Fog & Mørup ‘Saturn’ pendants: Angelucci
Ceiling in hoop pine plywood with clear satin gloss seal; polished concrete floor in ‘Atlantic Ocean’ in Off-White Base: Economix; Edwardstown ‘Studio’ wool carpet; refurbished Fog & Mørup ‘Saturn’ pendants: Angelucci
In the kitchen, a toughened bronze mirror splashback teams with a precast concrete countertop to create a sleek, functional space. The copper and black pendants bounce light off the plywood, giving the home a golden glow.
Hoop pine plywood: Form Ply; joinery fittings: Blum; Interia ‘O’ Series joinery pulls
Hoop pine plywood: Form Ply; joinery fittings: Blum; Interia ‘O’ Series joinery pulls
A curtain partition can transform the flowing open space into zones, turning the living area into a cosy retreat.
Open shelving enables Therese and James to show off their favourite things, with a rustic brick wall as the backdrop.
Custom curtains on theatre-grade track system: J&S Window Furnishings; door furniture: Handles Plus
Open shelving enables Therese and James to show off their favourite things, with a rustic brick wall as the backdrop.
Custom curtains on theatre-grade track system: J&S Window Furnishings; door furniture: Handles Plus
Black tapware and tiles give the bathroom an industrial edge. An abundance of white and a large mirrored cabinet makes the space feel larger than it really is.
Bath: Kaldewei; vanity: Duravit; tapware: Astra Walker
Bath: Kaldewei; vanity: Duravit; tapware: Astra Walker
With a lot size of less than 185 square metres, there’s not much outdoor space. This car parking area, set behind a roller-door at the rear of property, has been paved instead of concreted. This way, it is attractive enough to double as an outdoor entertaining space.
Concrete pavers: Eco Outdoor
Concrete pavers: Eco Outdoor
Khoo says the owners lived in the home for a few years before settling on their refurbishment plans, allowing them to refine their ideas.
Volker Haug lighting: Mondo Luce: Haiku ceiling fans: Big Ass Fans
Volker Haug lighting: Mondo Luce: Haiku ceiling fans: Big Ass Fans
Before and after: a house transformed.
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I wouldn't be surprised if the cafe across the street is nick named "The Hello Cafe" by a good deal of people.
Hi there,
Should you require any further information on Hydronic Heating then please do not hesitate to contact us. As Australias largest supplier of hydronic heating, we would be happy to answer any questions that may assist with ongoing articles on hydronic heating.
Thanks,
Sophie Okill
sophieo@huntheat.com.au
Fantastic project! Very clever and interesting and artistic. I'd only add some clerestory somewhere over the Hello..