Wurundjeri
Victorian
In our Fitzroy North Terrace, we sought to investigate design solutions that preserved and celebrated the building’s history, whilst respectfully reorganising its spaces to accommodate contemporary family life.
Intent on retaining as much existing fabric as possible, the alteration inscribes a new building envelope behind the heritage street façade. In doing so, the interface between garden, street, and private realm is redefined. By pulling the new fabric away from the existing, a productive dialogue is created. The heritage façade begins to perform a new role as a filter between the street and interior. The resulting liminal space is given over to a micro-garden. Large apertures in the new building envelope enable dual aspect openings, delivering light and ventilation deep into the heritage plan without compromising on privacy.
Further defining the exterior spaces, the site is book-ended by a small, yet hard-working utility area and productive roof-top garden.
This old house was full of character, however from a different era. Built before modern services, rooms were disconnected and the garden was a service yard. It’s has seen a lot of love over 124 years with many owners recreating this building as their own.
The altered building accommodates a modern lifestyle whilst preserving the original beauty. Redundant spaces have been remade efficiently in to a well-functioning design.
We love the shed. It’s full of bikes, I make beer there and it doubles as a popup art space. We grow vegies on the roof and use it as a retreat.
Brett Wittingslow, Project Architect
Clare Cousins, Design Architect
Elliot Lind, Project Architect
Jessica Wood, Project Architect
Co-Struct, Structural Engineer
Eckersley Garden Architecture, Landscape Consultant
The Australian Institute of Architects acknowledges First Nations peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the lands, waters, and skies of the continent now called Australia.
We express our gratitude to their Elders and Knowledge Holders whose wisdom, actions and knowledge have kept culture alive.
We recognise First Nations peoples as the first architects and builders. We appreciate their continuing work on Country from pre-invasion times to contemporary First Nations architects, and respect their rights to continue to care for Country.
