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Kevin Borland was one of Melbourne’s most influential post-war architects, helping shape a distinctly Australian strain of Modernism.
Known for his rugged ‘bush carpentry’ aesthetic, Borland embraced natural materials, exposed structures, and unconventional geometries, leaving a lasting mark on our architectural landscape.
Among Borland’s significant residential projects is the Crossman House, a remarkable 1970s residence in Glen Iris.
So when the new custodians approached WOWOWA Architecture to rework the home, studio director Monique Woodward knew they’d be shaping a piece of the architect’s legacy.
The enduring building possessed ‘extraordinary structural bones and heritage beauty’, complete with a double-height, fern-filled internal garden atrium nestled between curved brick walls, and a unique floor plan, set on a 45-degree angle.
But after almost 50 years, the home needed some key upgrades, particularly to improve its sustainability and energy performance.
‘The house was freezing in winter and hot in summer,’ Monique says. A spiral staircase blocked light and garden views, while a rotting rear balustrade, living spaces, and oversized pool also needed attention.
After 12 months of planning, the team had a ‘heart-attack moment’ when a heritage overlay was newly added to the property right before construction commenced — a decision that came following calls for the house to be protected when it was listed for sale in 2020.
Luckily, the council embraced the proposed changes, including replacing the atrium’s windows with an upgraded double-glazed system.
The new frames were carefully designed to maintain their existing proportions, while the supporting T-bar structures were kept bright yellow as a key part of Borland’s original flair.
‘We positioned ourselves as spatial biographers, designing with the “angel of Borland” on our shoulder,’ Monique says of their approach. The modernist joinery within the living room, timber laminated doors, and timber lining were all painstakingly restored and refurbished wherever possible.
The main updates included reworking the kitchen, laundry, and pantry area to create a more contemporary central hub, featuring bold yellow joinery. Upstairs, an internal storage area was cleverly transformed into a mezzanine study, while the oversized swimming pool outside was removed.
This freed up much-needed space for a new garden, and in line with the project’s adaptive reuse ethos, the salvaged tiles from the original pool were given a second life on the benchtop in the laundry.
In true WOWOWA fashion, colour was central to the refresh. Splashes of playful Yves Klein Blue and red were extended into the new spaces.
‘The upstairs bathroom was tiled in the most delicious rectangular tiles with black and brown stripes. We attempted to save them, but they broke while carefully removing them, so we found a combination of new tiles that almost perfectly replicated the old,’ Monique says.
Rather than competing with Borland’s vision, the redesign offers a dialogue between two generations of Australian architects, united by a love of unexpected colour.
‘People often are unsure where Borland stopped, and we started,’ Monique muses.
‘Mostly we are proud that Kevin Borland’s relatives who have witnessed the project’s reimagining have complemented our work. We felt the pressure of their approval as we worked, as well as the many architecture critics who would assess the success of the home.
‘Having now won the Australian Institute of Architects Heritage Award and the National Houses Awards Heritage Award, we feel proud of our contribution to this important piece of history.’
