Strathmore Residence

Strathmore, Australia

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Other Projects by JL Architects

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Strathmore Residence

Strathmore, Australia

Firm

JL Architects

Type

Residential › Private House

STATUS

Built

YEAR

2025

SIZE

25,000 sqft - 100,000 sqft

BUDGET

$5M - 10M

Strathmore House is more than just a home; it is a sanctuary where heritage and contemporary living coexist. Designed for a growing family with a love for entertaining, the project carefully balances modern functionality with a deep respect for the site’s historical fabric.

Originally built in 1845, the residence was situated on Napier Hill and belonged to Thomas Napier, one of Strathmore’s earliest European settlers. Following a devastating fire in 1891, the house was rebuilt in its current form. In 1923, after a period of vacancy following the Second World War, it was purchased by the Catholic Columban Mission and became a convent for the Sisters of Charity.

The original house is a substantial double-storey nineteenth-century polychromatic brick and stucco residence, featuring a deep two-level return verandah on the east elevation. Key elements of the original red brick building have been retained where possible, while contemporary interior additions reflect the client’s stylistic preferences and a modern design language. Classic interior elements and contemporary interventions are unified: checkered marble floors create visual continuity between old and new spaces, preserving spatial coherence. The depth and tactility of marble act as a design statement, transforming the pool pavilion and interior spaces into moments of visual attunement between past and present.
The proposed built form has been designed as a single-storey extension that emerges as secondary in character and scale relative to the original double-storey heritage house. The ground level contains a family living room, kitchen, outdoor pool, pool pavilion with change and shower room, and an arrival court with a lift accessible basement garage below, all carefully located to the rear of the original residence.

To juxtapose the warmth of the brick façade, the extension introduces dark and neutral colours, materials, and treatments that politely differentiate the addition from the red brick heritage fabric in a visually recessive yet contemporary manner. A dark grey angular stone fin façade to the pool pavilion’s northern elevation maintains a discreet yet confident presence towards the street. Narrow glazed openings between the stone fins direct interior views toward the landscaped garden. The arrival court, paved in marble cobblestone and serviced by a car lift that discreetly accesses the garage below, ensures minimal visual intrusion with no visible garaging.

It is vital to us that the proposed architectural expression is neither visually intrusive nor dominant in relation to the original heritage fabric. Rather than choosing between preservation and reinvention, this renovation exemplifies inherent elegance by embracing both. The careful selection of finishes and a considered design approach not only respect the building’s history and integrity but also respond to the demands of modern living.

Strathmore House bridges Melbourne’s architectural past and present, creating a respectful dialogue between eras and allowing the building to continue evolving.

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Strathmore Residence

Strathmore, Australia

Other Projects by JL Architects

Strathmore Residence

Strathmore Residence

Strathmore, Australia

Product Spec Sheet

Collaborating Firms

Team