The owners of this Brisbane home approached Daniel Hall of Bligh Graham Architects to renovated their family house, to accommodate three energetic young boys and bring light into the space. Daniel explains that the concept was to ‘pare back the previous poorly executed renovation works’ and re-emphasise the strong bones of the original structure. Putting the modern back into mid-century!

The new design avoids mimicking the original planning, but rather ‘creates a new relationship to the exterior and new Northern garden court’ Daniel describes. The house has been opened up, with the kitchen as a central anchor, that looks out to the dining room, terrace, garden, deck and Brisbane river beyond. Natural light now floods through the home, thanks to lifted ceilings and generous new openings.

The success of this project is in the balance between protecting the mid-century legacy and identity of the building, while updating the home, in terms of environmental standards and contemporary living conditions. Once the linings of the home were removed, Daniel explains that ‘the original house was discovered to be very poorly built’ and major structural works were required. While initially frustrating, this presented an opportunity to express the existing hardwood rafters and a new plywood ceiling.

The interior detailing introduced by the architect is also a deliberate reference to the mid-century heritage of the building. Hand built solid timber and copper joinery is both aesthetically appropriate to the era, and emphasises the handcrafting expertise of the time.