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For Topology Studio director Darren Kaye, renovating this 1890s terrace in Albert Park for his octogenarian clients was almost like tailoring an old suit.
Located on a corner site at the end of a row of terraces, the building was still beautiful and well crafted. But having moved into the elegant Victorian 26 years ago, the owners found certain spaces no longer fit their needs.
Faced with the dilemma of whether to move on or invest in adapting their house for accessibility, the clients decided on the latter.
‘Like a faithful old suit that needs re-tailoring, or a pair of shoes to be resoled, this house required alterations and repairs,’ Darren says of the house, which bears the name Eleanor, printed in glass above the side entrance.
‘Threading a lift into the house was the project catalyst, generating a reconfiguration of spaces to simplify flow, and support intimacy and care.’
In addition to the external heritage controls in place, the brief was stringent about no additions or changes to the existing building, which forced Topology to work within the existing footprint.
While the facade has been repaired and restored to its former glory, the internal floor plan has been completely reconfigured.
On the ground floor, an awkward circulation path that ran straight through the middle of the house — dubbed the ‘train carriage effect’ by the owners — was resolved by readjusting the hallway to the northern edge.
Removing an existing bathroom also made way for the new lift, as the old, coiled timber staircase was spliced and ‘re-tailored’, fitting the existing handrail onto the newly raised balusters, crafted to match the original.
‘The principles to retain, repair, salvage, reuse, and upgrade where possible minimised construction waste, costs, and volume of new materials,’ Darren says.
‘Thermally, the house has been extensively upgraded for comfort and sustainability. Existing windows have been double glazed, with bulk insulation added to floors and ceilings.’
Drawing inspiration from the Victorian home’s stately material palette, blackbutt timber features throughout, including across the parquetry floors, doors, joinery, and new handrails.
The two bedrooms are divided by a central bathroom upstairs, where a luxurious red marble vanity ties in neatly with the exterior’s red iron lattice on the balcony — a quiet tribute to the home’s heritage.
Other accessible considerations include a timber deck with steps, and a handrail that connects flush with a sunken garden at street level. Provisions were also made for a future ramp to be installed at the rear, ensuring long-term access.
Topology’s renovations have unlocked a sense of safety, dignity, and extended the autonomy of its ageing occupants, while preserving the fabric of the century-old terrace for another 100 years.
‘We are most proud of undertaking extensive interior renovations within an existing heritage building and achieving an outcome that feels seamless,’ Darren says.
