Bayside House

Melbourne, Australia

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Bayside House

Melbourne, Australia

Firm

Büro

Type

Residential › Private House

YEAR

2012

SIZE

100,000 sqft - 300,000 sqft

The brief was for a
home that retained the formal qualities of the original 19th century house but
which also provided for contemporary family life. Büro collaborated with
interior designer Stuart Rattle to remodel the original house, and designed a
substantial new pavilion at the rear, removing 20th century additions in the
process. The clients asked that
the “old” and the “new” parts of the house connect seamlessly, yet have
distinct personalities. Creating a unified design was Büro’s overarching aim.

A perforated stone
screen wraps the new pavilion in an abstract pattern, providing a consistent
language for the structure as well as openness and light, while its solidity,
colour and authority is in tune with the original house that was restored to
grey concrete render. A particular appeal of the screen is this combination of
heaviness and lightness. From the Esplanade, the extension appears mirage-like
and at night it seems almost translucent. This also satisfied heritage
requirements that it not compete with the original house.A 1980s mock historic
observatory was also removed and, in response to the clients’ desire to
maximise seaviews, Büro devised a contemporary solution with minimal visual
impact. The result was praised by the heritage advisor as contemporary, yet in
spirit with the original 19th century “widow’s walk”.

The waterjet cut stone
screen had no identifiable precedent and required careful structural and
aesthetic resolutions. Büro worked with Barry Russell, a structural engineer
specialising in commercial facades to devise a solution of panels pinned back
to the structure. The screen provides
privacy and sun shading and allows cross-ventilation. Its openness softens the
interior/exterior boundary; helping to connect interior and exterior spaces.
The boundary is further blurred by the patterned shadows cast on and within the
house, and with the stone appearing the same from inside and outside.

Skyrange steel framed
windows and French doors also allow for the rear of the house to open to the
garden, while the limestone floor of the living room extends seamlessly to the
outside.

With limited northern
fenestration in the Victorian house, the glass link holds apart the old and the
new to allow sun to penetrate the heart of the house, modulated with motorised
brise-soleil. On the first floor this link is a bridge as well as a children’s
playroom. Rather than hiding the children’s playroom as one might have in a
Victorian house, the openness and visual and acoustic connection to living
areas celebrates family life.The chiaroscuro
effects and materiality of the stone screen influenced the choice of interior
finishes. Natural stone and timber are used throughout as a consistent language
within a simple grisaille palette. Dark stained American oak floorboards have
been laid throughout both old and new parts of the house, punctuated by
bluestone thresholds. This is matched by timber joinery so that this consistent
element flows horizontally and vertically throughout.