The owners of this Edwardian terrace in Melbourne’s inner north had big plans for their renovation. But when they brought on Brave New Eco to realise their vision, the designers suggested a more compact layout.
‘[The clients] planned to accommodate their ageing parents in the years to come and with this in mind, we worked with Matt from Green Solar Designs to resolve the layout so that where possible, spaces could be used and accessed in multiple ways,’ says Brave New Eco director, Megan Norgate.
The four original rooms at the front of the house were reconfigured into two bedrooms, a second living room, bathroom and extra ancillary rooms.
The new double-storey extension at the rear included a new open plan living space, laundry and second floor main bedroom suite.
‘As the Edwardian elements of the home were well preserved, we referenced these throughout the design so as to continue the relationship between the new and older parts of the home,’ says Megan. This is especially noted in the extension, which utilised the existing gabled roofline to create the parents’ retreat.
‘A sense of timelessness was important – the classic architectural features in the front parts were maintained and painted in muted greys and blues, and in the new areas applied subtle references to classically enduring motifs, patterns and forms to give the home a proportionally balanced feeling,’ says Megan.
As with all Brave New Eco projects, low-impact materials were a key feature of the Enduring House. Locally manufactured Australian timbers, living brass finishes, FSC-certified timber floorboards, and low-toxic paints and sealants. Materials were also repurposed where possible.
‘We call this project “Enduring House” for three reasons,’ says Megan. ‘Firstly, aesthetically – we leaned into a timeless sense of style in the design. Secondly, we built in future living scenarios, allowing the house to morph and change as the family grows. Thirdly, because this project weathered a few of life’s challenges along the way, including unexpected illness, job changes, and then finally a year of Covid lockdowns during the build.’
And hopefully it ‘endures’ for many more years to come!
See more projects from Brave New Eco here.
