Victoria
Sited within Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Country, Villa Rotunda takes its Italian namesake from Villa La Rotonda, a romantic architectural icon enmeshed with an Australianness that is both bastardised and humble the WOWOWA way.
So, when the practice was asked to renovate a latticed Victorian era county cottage and former Romsey Schoolhouse, it seemed only fitting to lionize the treasured rotunda folly in Edinburgh Gardens of the same colonial lineage. This typology mashup invites and distorts the visual language of both rendering them decidedly Australian and not European.
Our rotunda walls wouldn’t be painted stucco but rammed earth with ingredients from the local quarry and locally sourced internal timbers and materials. The creamy clay matches the original yellowy weatherboards with the trimmings of each structure establishing the internal colour pallet, that would embellish this tree change residence beautiful mints, greens & rusts.
The rotunda allows us to feel as though we are outside with all the benefits of being inside, whatever the weather. The rammed earth walls, extra tall windows and vaulted timber battened ceiling make for a room the whole family wants to be in.
It’s our “go to” room for everything, with views of the rear garden and 150 year old oak tree along the side driveway. The textures and colours of the surfaces throughout the renovation are wonderful and every room has a different aspect and feel, while being clearly connected to each other.
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.
