Architecture

An Expertly Renovated 1930s Home + Lush Garden

Period homes are beautiful, but they often contain compartmentalised spaces lacking a connection to the outdoors. The Malvern Garden House by Taylor Knights architects addresses these very issues, combining the best elements of period and contemporary design in the one home. 

By opening up the existing 1930s house alongside a new concrete addition, the architects have designed a home with spaces for respite and engagement, all of which celebrate the incredible Ben Scott Garden Design landscaping.

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

Inside the new concrete addition in Malvern Garden House by Taylor Knghts. Photo – Derek Swalwell

The project introduces opportunities to engage with the garden at every turn. Photo – Derek Swalwell

The new addition sits on the highest level of the site, and contains the new kitchen and dining areas. Photo – Derek Swalwell

‘Our approach focused on the sensitive layering of reorientated internal spaces within the existing and new floor plates, injecting natural light deep into the home, and contrasting expansive new views across the north-facing garden,’ says architect Peter Knights. Photo – Derek Swalwell

The teal pool tiles add a richness to the garden scheme. Photo – Derek Swalwell

The formal, yet immediately tactile use of concrete evokes a sense of permanence and creates a space for daily ritual and refuge. Photo – Derek Swalwell

The project combines best elements of period and contemporary design Hanging print – ‘F02‘ from Derek Swalwell’s Farnsworth + Miller series. Photo – Derek Swalwell

Timber furniture and joinery in the project is by Made by Morgen. Photo – Derek Swalwell

The clients of this project were seeking an adaptable, zoned home to nurture their young family. Photo – Derek Swalwell

Steelwork throughout the home is by Tescher Forge. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

Contemporary timber meets heritage detailing. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

The bathroom enjoys its own garden views. Photo – Derek Swalwell  

Modern bathroom details. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

Vegetation spills over the edges of this rooftop garden, adopting an appearance akin to an ancient ruin. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

The rooftop garden is also a source of insulation. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

The garden was expertly reimagined by Ben Scott Garden Design, incorporating majestic established oak and elm trees. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

The original home was completely reworked in order to shift its focus to the garden. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

The beautiful 1930s heritage facade remains. Photo – Derek Swalwell 

Writer
Amelia Barnes
23rd of July 2020

Old meets new in this Malvern project, which sees a 1930s house, a contemporary addition, existing mature trees, and new landscaping come together on one site, to spectacular effect! The project’s success hinges on the equally important contribution of the architects, Taylor Knights, and Ben Scott Garden Design, who together have turned this home’s previously inward focus to the outdoors.

The clients were seeking an adaptable, zoned home to nurture their young family, as well as provide comfortable accommodation for guests. With this in mind, Taylor Knights designed a diverse, equally-distributed arrangement of shared and secluded spaces across the home’s existing and new buildings, introducing a northerly aspect wherever possible. 

This house is the client’s forever home – a sentiment reflected in the enduring, durable qualities of its materials, particularly in the concrete addition. ‘The formal, yet immediately tactile use of concrete evokes a sense of permanence, and creates a space of daily ritual and refuge,’ says Taylor Knights director, Peter Knights. This addition sits on the highest level of the site, and contains the new kitchen and dining areas. 

The garden is an inextricable part of this project. Terraced over three levels, Ben Scott has created a multi-dimensional landscape that can be used both actively and passively by the young family owners. ‘Every element of the garden supports the principles of the architecture, that seek to provide flexible and adaptable spaces for the growing family,’ says Peter. The architect describes the garden as an animated, immersive experience, that captures the wonder and imagination of a child’s mind. 

As well as building on existing century old elm and oak trees, the new landscaping introduces more modern, multifunctional spaces. The new rooftop garden, for example, is not only a wonderful aesthetic addition to the home, but also a source of insulation. Vegetation spills over the edges of this rooftop garden, adopting an appearance akin to an ancient ruin.  

Gardens are too often a secondary feature of modern homes, making this project particularly special. The Malvern Garden House is a shining example of what can be achieved when an architect and garden designer work together to create better outcomes, to the benefit of all those involved. 

This incredible garden by Ben Scott Garden Design is shortlisted in the Landscape Design category of The Design Files + Laminex Design Awards 2020. See all the Landscape Design design finalists here!

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