Autumn House

2022 National Architecture Awards: National Award for Residential Architecture - Houses (Alterations and Additions) and People's Choice Award

Autumn House | Studio Bright

Traditional Land Owners: Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation

Autumn House attempts to negotiate the need for refuge, retreat, and privacy with generosity and engagement with the urban context.

An extension to a Victorian terrace with a 1980’s renovation by architect Mick Jörgensen and a mature Elm tree in the backyard, in effect adds a careful new layer stitched into and around these constraints. The project attempts to sympathetically balance the architecture of the Victorian, the Jorgenson addition with a new contribution by our studio.

Autumn House deflects its plan form around the Elm tree, surrounding and embracing the canopy and bringing the seasonal beauty of the tree into daily life.

JURY CITATION

The latest incarnation of this Victorian-era terrace with a 1980s renovation by architect by Mick Jörgensen has delivered a family home full of thoughtfulness, consideration and style. Studio Bright’s work includes a new addition at the rear consisting of a kitchen, living room and master bedroom. A rooftop deck basks in the winter sun while a mesh framework prevents overlooking and waits patiently for the jasmine to take over.

A sliding door off the kitchen reveals the best of Jörgensen’s work: the original lounge room with a central bagged brick fireplace that is presented almost as an architectural tribute. A wonderful example of the care that went into this work is the shower curtain, hand sown by lead architect Maia Close after a suitable one couldn’t be found. This is a project that successfully marries the old and the not-so-old, presenting an exciting vision for the continuing reinvention of the humble terrace.

In a classic Melbourne sporting analogy, Studio Bright is a football team on song.

Client perspective:
How does the design benefit the way you live/work/play/operate/educate/other?

We wanted to tell you how much we love living in this special space; we take turns working in the study, with its view into the courtyard and onto the street. The girls do their lessons at the sunny dining table and eat lunch on the back veranda. In the evenings we do family jigsaws in the old loungeroom and then read in the ‘pink loungeroom’.
It truly is the most lovely house and we really appreciate all the effort and attention you put into not only making it great to look at but also great to live in.

Practice team:

Pei She Lee, Graduate of Architecture
Annie Suratt, Associate
Emily Watson, Architect
Rob McIntyre, Director for Design Realisation / Architect
Maia Close, Project Architect
Melissa Bright, Director / Design Architect