Architecture

A Subtle Reimagining Of A Significant 1960s Multigenerational Home

Beddison Swift House is a rare example of a 1960s house commissioned by joint owners to suit multigenerational living, and one of few projects undertaken by the short lived partnership between by prominent modernist architects Guilford Bell and Neil Clerehan.

The property in Ivanhoe, Melbourne was designed by the duo as a one-storey unit for the older Beddisons (the grandparents) at the front of the property, with an attached two-storey house for the younger Swifts (the Beddison’s children and grandchildren) to the rear — each with its own kitchen and living area.

Now owned by the one family, Beddison Swift House was sensitively combined in a recent renovation by Jane Cameron Architects and Architect Hewson to create a cohesive home that respects its architectural origins.

Written
by
Amelia Barnes
|
Photography
by
|
Styling
by

Originally spanning two dwellings, this significant modernist home in Ivanhoe has been consolidated in a renovation by Jane Cameron Architects and Architect Hewson.

The original property was prominent modernist architects Guilford Bell and Neil Clerehan during their 18 month partnership to suit multigenerational living,

Now owned by the one family of four, the Beddison Swift House recently underwent a sympathetic renovation to combine its two residences (each with their own kitchen and living area) into the one connected and visually cohesive home.

Steps with a sliding door (located in the location of a former timber ‘hatch’ housing the original owners’ telephones) were firstly introduced to connect the two dwellings.

The neutral palette of the updated home is in keeping with the original architecture, with the addition of olive green accents across the sliding door and furniture that reference the bush landscape outside.

Renovations were contained to the ground floor, leaving the second-storey of the rear home largely untouched.

The floor plan was modified to remove the kitchen in the front dwelling, creating space for a larger living area.

A new deck was added to the rear of the property off the new kitchen.

Jane Cameron Architects and Architect Hewson’s changes remain hidden from the street as a sign of respect for the two original architects’ work.

Writer
Amelia Barnes
Photography
18th of April 2024

This Ivanhoe property was originally constructed in 1963 as two separate dwellings owned by two related families: the Beddisons and the Swifts.

The families’ differing needs and the sloping site dictated the design of the two homes, which are placed one by the other on the leafy site, close to the Yarra River banks.

Now owned by one family of four, the Beddison Swift House recently underwent a sympathetic renovation to combine its two residences (each with their own kitchen and living area) into one connected and visually cohesive home.

The consolidated Beddison Swift House has been reimagined by Jane Cameron Architects and Architect Hewson to be as respectful of the original architecture as possible. The property is historically significant, as it’s one of few designs undertaken by the progressive partnership of prominent modernist architects Guilford Bell and Neil Clerehan.

The recent renovations were contained to the ground floor, leaving the second-storey of the rear home largely untouched.

Steps with a sliding door (located in the location of a former timber ‘hatch’ housing the original owners’ telephones) were firstly introduced to connect the two dwellings.

The floor plan was then modified to remove the kitchen in the front dwelling, creating space for a larger living area.

Lastly, the kitchen and dining area in the rear dwelling were reconfigured to face a new rear deck and the backyard beyond, and allow room for an indoors laundry.

The neutral palette of the updated home is in keeping with the original architecture, with the addition of olive green accents across the sliding door and furniture that reference the bush landscape outside.

Jane Cameron Architects and Architect Hewson’s changes remain hidden from the street, as a sign of respect for the two original architects’ work.

The minimal updates required speaks to the quality and thoughtfulness of Bell and Clerehan’s design, which has been retained for the next generation.

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