This double-fronted Victorian in North Fitzroy has a north-south block. Bedrooms at the front enjoy light and warmth; southern living rooms are dark and cold. Our brief was to bring in sunlight and expand the home. We needed to find the right balance between internal and external in a restricted space.
The home features three bedrooms and a bathroom in the existing home, and a new open plan kitchen, dining, and living room in a rear extension. This new space features carefully placed apertures, introducing divergent light qualities and vistas and a special complexity — an element of surprise to the home. The obvious solution would have been a fully glazed structure — this home illustrates our resolve to push design further.
Clerestory double-glazed windows over the new living areas draw in northern light through winter. A recycled brick freestanding fireplace provides warmth. Eaves and a retractable awning over the courtyard shut out summer glare. High set operable windows evacuate heat.
Wall-to-wall cabinetry with timber-clad feature shelving provides ample storage, while a refined palette of timber, charcoal stone tiles, and white wash walls provide a fresh aesthetic for the renewed home.
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