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This renovated Melbourne home by Freadman White is nothing short of a masterclass in blending old with new.
At the front, the Victorian heritage facade remains intact. The four principal rooms were retained and reimagined; one being used for the main bedroom, complete with an ensuite and walk-in robe; the others configured as a flexible study or bedroom, and a secondary living space.
Meanwhile at the rear, what was originally an incongruous 1990s addition has been utterly transformed.
‘Our vision for the project was to create a home that seamlessly integrates architecture and landscape to enrich the spatial experience within a comparatively compact site,’ Freadman White director Ilana Freadman says.
It was through this ‘blended approach’ that the architects created the surprisingly voluminous spaces that now supports the owner’s modern lifestyle, with two children in tow.
‘The design carefully choreographs the journey from the street to the interior, with the entry sequence curated to condition the senses — an unfolding series of spaces that manipulate proportion, light, and view,’ Ilana says.
Behind the existing heritage components, the hallway leads to an arched opening with a glimpse of the swimming pool and a courtyard designed by Florian Wild, encased in curving glass.
Steps lead down in the new extension that opens dramatically to reveal a grand double-height volume, which aligns with the original period rooms.
Timber flooring transitions to striking palladiana flooring, composed pink and white stones, for a playful edge, as a Verde Bardini stone island bench and splashback provide a striking centerpiece in the kitchen.
A key inspiration for the redesign came from the client’s childhood memories. Having grown up in Queensland, he recalled the swimming pool as the heart of his family home — something Freadman White were able to recreate.
‘The kitchen looks directly onto the pool, fostering a calm outlook year-round, while a circulation void above reinforces a sensation of floating, further celebrating the pool’s central role in the life of the home,’ Ilana adds.
Amongst the extension’s cream bricks and plastered walls, the powder room was conceived as a ‘jewel-like moment’ within the home.
The stone vanity’s red hues are paired with matching Chifu WA-2804 tiles from Artedomus, continuing the interior’s whimsical pops of colour and luxurious material palette.
Ilana notes its a home that’s best experienced in person: ‘The interplay of light, reflection, and volume transforms the experience of the interiors. Moments of compression and release, shadow and illumination, connect the old and new parts of the house in a fluid and unexpected way.’
‘Standing within the space, you become aware of how the pool animates the architecture, casting movement and colour across walls and ceilings.’
