Houzz Tour: Two Tired Terraces Add Up to One Cool-for-Kids Home
A 'For Sale' sign on the house next door was a couple's chance to build an exciting and unconventional family home
Janet Dunn
9 September 2020
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid interior design enthusiast. Ex-restaurateur and caterer, with a Professional Certificate in Gastronomy, University of Adelaide.
Houzz Australia Contributor. Former NZ House&Garden writer and stylist, and avid... More
When a home becomes too small for a growing family and starts to show its age, thoughts usually turn to an extension and renovation. This is what the owners of a single-fronted terrace in the Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy North intended. They had embarked on preparations for the project, but a new window of opportunity opened. The neighbouring terrace came up for sale at the last minute and generated a quantum shift in their plans.
Photography: Peter Bennetts
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three young children
Location: Fitzroy North, Victoria
Size: 371 square metres on a 464-square-metre site, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Architecture and design: Austin Maynard Architects
Builder: Overend Constructions
When they compared the advantages of the original proposed extensions versus those of purchasing and incorporating the dilapidated second terrace into the project, this event seemed serendipitous. Austin Maynard Architects was engaged to combine the properties into a functional, flexible home with plenty of potential for the family’s evolving needs and activities.
The design put emphasis on enabling the owners and their three children to live in stimulating, sociable yet reflective surroundings, as well as engaging with both the neighbourhood and each other. The result is an eclectic, non-conformist home that explores design boundaries and provides constant moments of playfulness and discovery.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple and their three young children
Location: Fitzroy North, Victoria
Size: 371 square metres on a 464-square-metre site, with five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Architecture and design: Austin Maynard Architects
Builder: Overend Constructions
When they compared the advantages of the original proposed extensions versus those of purchasing and incorporating the dilapidated second terrace into the project, this event seemed serendipitous. Austin Maynard Architects was engaged to combine the properties into a functional, flexible home with plenty of potential for the family’s evolving needs and activities.
The design put emphasis on enabling the owners and their three children to live in stimulating, sociable yet reflective surroundings, as well as engaging with both the neighbourhood and each other. The result is an eclectic, non-conformist home that explores design boundaries and provides constant moments of playfulness and discovery.
This was not a straightforward, cookie-cutter project. A better understanding of its complexity and the rationale behind it can be seen from above. On the left, the two small white buildings are part of the original homes, while the dark peaked roofs comprise the double-storey new builds. They open onto a central garden, entertaining and recreation area. On each side, the long buildings house the garage and utility spaces that extend to the wide rear lane.
Inspired to get cracking on your own dream home? Find a local architect on Houzz
Inspired to get cracking on your own dream home? Find a local architect on Houzz
The interior of the newly acquired terrace before works
The newly acquired terrace largely uninhabitable and structurally unsound. Squatters had plastered the walls with posters and pulled up and burnt the floorboards for firewood. Almost total demolition, bar the facade and a front room, provided a blank canvas for the development of the new design.
A heritage overlay ruled that the street frontages and rooflines in the area must remain. This meant any new buildings needed to relate to the dominant streetscape of Victorian, Edwardian and other pre-World War II buildings. To comply, the owner’s existing home retained its front facade as well as a side wall and the 1930s steel-framed windows.
The newly acquired terrace largely uninhabitable and structurally unsound. Squatters had plastered the walls with posters and pulled up and burnt the floorboards for firewood. Almost total demolition, bar the facade and a front room, provided a blank canvas for the development of the new design.
A heritage overlay ruled that the street frontages and rooflines in the area must remain. This meant any new buildings needed to relate to the dominant streetscape of Victorian, Edwardian and other pre-World War II buildings. To comply, the owner’s existing home retained its front facade as well as a side wall and the 1930s steel-framed windows.
The facades of the two properties before works
As seen in this image with the original frontages of the adjacent buildings, the two facades have different profiles and heights. Austin Maynard Architect’s challenge was to integrate the different elements in a rational way without losing the traditional features, and to link them to the new buildings behind.
As seen in this image with the original frontages of the adjacent buildings, the two facades have different profiles and heights. Austin Maynard Architect’s challenge was to integrate the different elements in a rational way without losing the traditional features, and to link them to the new buildings behind.
This liaison was achieved by a double-door entry of reeded glass set back between the two buildings, which joins the two houses while keeping their separate identities. The entry gives a glimpse of greenery and piques curiosity about what lies beyond – one of the architect’s “nuanced moments of surprise and discovery,” which informed the entire project, says Mark Austin, a director of Austin Maynard Architects.
The aesthetic from the street is fresh and modern, with crisp white-painted brickwork accented by black steel window frames and traditional iron lace. With its small ornamental front garden and mature plane tree, the home sits neatly between its neighbours behind a visually unobtrusive metal picket fence.
“We’ve kept some of the former detailing, even though this would have been added to what was once a Victorian home,” says Austin. Corbels, parapets, finials and decorative plaques, painted white, blend seamlessly with the exterior walls, adding a touch of whimsy and referencing the house’s Victorian origins.
Original allotment plans gave many of these Fitzroy North sites an elongated rectilinear form and rear lane access. This catered to the functional necessities of the era – delivering coal, removal of night soil and sometimes stabling of horses. The street-to-rear lane configuration in both the owner’s original home and the terrace next door became an integral part of Austin Maynard Architect’s design.
The unusually wide rear lane was an opportunity to reorientate the home’s layout. Several of the new spaces now open to this public laneway, rather than to the street, and provide a more sociable connection with the neighbourhood than the previous street frontage. “With no heritage constraints to this frontage, the aim was to engage with the street and the neighbours, with direct access, large openings and windows,” says Austin.
Through the glass entry, the layout of the original home was fully reorganised to meet the family’s present and future needs. Walls were removed and a second level added. The living area, kitchen, dining room and concealed laundry are on the ground level. Beyond the dining room is a two-storey kids’ zone with three bedrooms and a bathroom. It sits above a rumpus room and a study, adjacent to a multi-functional utility/garage space.
The parents’ bedroom with walk-in wardrobe and ensuite are in the second level above the kitchen. Whereas the majority of parents’ retreats focus on seclusion, “the owners asked for the main bedroom to be at the very centre of the house”, says Austin. “They wanted to have the opportunity to directly engage with the activity below, or close the large sliding doors to create a private space.”
The couple’s three young children have been handsomely catered for in a dream kids’ castle.
A spiral staircase leads up to a bathroom and three bedrooms, with a bright carpet chosen by each child. A perforated-steel landing connects the bedrooms and bridges a double-height void.
“Every part of the house can be a secluded space… or opened up to be free-flowing,” says Austin. The bedrooms can be closed off with sliding panels or opened to allow interaction with each other across the hallway.
A spiral staircase leads up to a bathroom and three bedrooms, with a bright carpet chosen by each child. A perforated-steel landing connects the bedrooms and bridges a double-height void.
“Every part of the house can be a secluded space… or opened up to be free-flowing,” says Austin. The bedrooms can be closed off with sliding panels or opened to allow interaction with each other across the hallway.
The dedicated study/craft room also on this floor is designed to allow for both maximum creative mess and quiet secluded learning.
Be inspired by these fun and colourful kids’ playrooms
Be inspired by these fun and colourful kids’ playrooms
The rumpus room on the ground floor opens to the garden and the rear lane, and has been future-proofed to become self-contained with its own private street access. The play and study areas make use of sliding panels for pin-boards, blackboards, recharging zones, cubby holes and toy storage. A ladder in the study leads to extra storage space or a good hidey-hole during games.
The house has its secrets, integrated into the detailing to maintain an uncluttered yet highly functional appearance. The kitchen has a pantry, appliance storage shelves and food- preparation area hidden behind a sliding glass splashback. The kitchen bench hovers above the floor and all cables and wires are concealed within its tubular ends.
Materials are durable and high quality, with a porcelain panelled benchtop, Miele appliances and a ‘salt and pepper’ finish to the structural concrete-slab floor.
Materials are durable and high quality, with a porcelain panelled benchtop, Miele appliances and a ‘salt and pepper’ finish to the structural concrete-slab floor.
“Sustainability is always at the very core of each project,” says Austin. “All new work aims to maximise available daylight and optimise passive solar gain in winter, while ensuring that summer sun doesn’t hit the glass.”
The living spaces were reorientated along the southern boundary to face the sunny garden. Storage and services were located to the south.
The living spaces were reorientated along the southern boundary to face the sunny garden. Storage and services were located to the south.
Although window placement at first appears random, all openings have been deliberately positioned to maximise heating, cooling and ventilation efficiency. All windows are double-glazed with fixed external awnings for shade. With active management of shade and passive ventilation, demands on mechanical heating and cooling are substantially reduced. A large water tank is buried beneath the garden and all roof water is captured and reused to flush toilets and water the garden.
A dominant and highly intriguing feature of the house is the series of peaks and angles that form the roofline. From above, it resembles a built mountain range, suggesting an architectural whim rather than a practical purpose. Austin agrees, but points out that “every rise and fall is tuned to minimise over-shadowing and visual bulk. The roof is low against abutting gardens to avoid over-shadowing, and high where the neighbours have built against the boundary.”
The roof forms are clearly visible in the neighbourhood, so Austin chose to clad the peaks in the natural tones and textures of slate. Good looks aside, it is a robust surface with a long life span and no maintenance. “It can also be un-nailed and re-used in another life,” he says.
The roof forms are clearly visible in the neighbourhood, so Austin chose to clad the peaks in the natural tones and textures of slate. Good looks aside, it is a robust surface with a long life span and no maintenance. “It can also be un-nailed and re-used in another life,” he says.
While imaginative and inventive in appearance, the home’s durable, high-quality materials and deliberate attention to functionality and flexibility ensure the family’s changing needs will be met for years to come.
Your turn
Which feature in this design particularly impresses you? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more amazing builds? Check out this French Houzz Tour: The Tree House to Top All Nature-Loving Abodes
Your turn
Which feature in this design particularly impresses you? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images for inspiration, and join the conversation.
More
Want to see more amazing builds? Check out this French Houzz Tour: The Tree House to Top All Nature-Loving Abodes
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Totally agree that an open en-suite is a nasty thing
I love it, very unique and there are parts my imagination hadn't come up with yet! Love the mountain range exterior vibe but yes, I like that it is well thought out and functional and eco and future proofed and.... awesome for this family. Lucky things!
Beautiful modern home
Be proud