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Jeff Provan, co-founder of development group Neometro, bought a small corner site in Albert Park with plans to develop his future home from scratch — until this nearby 1870s terrace hit the market.
The house was slightly rundown, and located next to an infamous boarding house, but there was no denying its charm, rare inner-city features (dual street frontage with both northern and southern aspects) and location in the sought-after heritage St Vincent Place precinct.
Jeff and his wife Mariko Provan purchased the property and eventually set about renovating in collaboration with Clare McAllister (formerly of MAA Architects) and Clare Cousins Architects.
The renovation saw the front rooms of the 1870s terrace retained before a rear extension containing the new living spaces. The top storey was also rebuilt and restored in accordance with heritage controls, and a garage/studio added to the very rear of the block.
Jeff describes the addition, ‘My interest is in off-form concrete, so it’s basically a concrete shell on the back, with some off-form concrete work inside, which pierces into the front of the house slightly.’
With its raw, cool-toned materials and design that prioritises natural light, modern comforts, and architectural excellence, the addition is true to the Neometro aesthetic. It’s a firmly contemporary space, but with subtle references to the original architecture.
‘There’s a connection between the old and the new, but it’s very much a soft transition to the rear,’ Jeff explains. ‘I felt the concrete is quite sympathetic to the texture, feel and warmth of the Victorian features, even though they’re poles apart.’
What makes this house special is the collection of art, ceramics and other trinkets Jeff and Mariko have accumulated over decades. Jeff says, ‘We do have an eye and very similar interests. Probably our greatest strength, and our greatest weakness, is that we are collectors of things.’
His secret to collecting is trusting your instincts (‘it’s a very instant thing’), resulting in pieces that speak to you above all else — whether that’s a Minnie Pwerle painting, Spiderman figures, handmade baskets, or stormtrooper masks.
‘I don’t like the word ‘styled’ for our house… it’s just a collection of stuff we like,’ says Jeff. ‘We have a crowded house, so to speak, of all sorts of things here.’
It’s the culmination of these pieces that makes Jeff and Mariko’s house truly their own. Keep an eye out for the couple’s coastal home, coming soon to TDF!
