Inner City Downsize

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 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.

Steffen Welsch Architects