light, material, drama, volume

Melbourne Architects. View to the new extension. A two storey high black structure with a single pitched volume housing the living rooms on the ground floor and main bedroom & ensuite upstairs.

North Fitzroy House

This semi-detached dwelling on a narrow site, has been extended to provide two new levels of flowing living spaces, while responding sensitively to a heritage overlay.

The conceptual heart of this home is the new black structure, a single pitched volume that mirrors the angles in the existing tiled roof and dramatically switches direction at the rear and allows sun penetration into the site and its surrounds.

Materials and colours drawn from the existing heritage portico are used internally and externally and together, they bind heritage with the new forms and reinforce connectivity across two distinct parts.

Kitchen joinery materials and colours are drawn from the existing heritage section of the house, referencing the rich heritage timber work and white regency timber lining.

Painted and bagged brickwork

Regency timber Lining

Rich Heritage Timber work

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Painted and bagged brickwork

At the core of the extension is the kitchen with a dramatic void above, containing winding stair, mezzanine main bedroom and a bridge to the en suite.

From this void space, northern and western light filters down to the kitchen below, reflecting off surfaces and materials, as light and shadow change, pending the season and time of day.

Residential Architects. Two-storey high void above the kitchen allows northern and western light to filter down to the kitchen below. The master bedroom located above the kitchen has an internal window to this void, allowing for light and views to downstairs. A bridge through the void connects the master bedroom to the ensuite, allowing experience of this double storey void.

The drama of the double-height void is counterbalanced by cosy dining and living spaces, with a living area that opens onto a north facing garden.

View to the kitchen joinery and winding stairs leading to the upstairs. Lights filters down from the double storey void to the kitchen below. Rich timber kitchen joinery softens the robustness of concrete floor finish.

View to Master Bedroom. A bridge through the double storey void connects the master bedroom to the stairs and ensuite bathroom. A black glazed partition and windows separates the bedroom from the double-storey void, while allowing light and view to and from the master bedroom. Venetian blinds are used for privacy to the bedroom.

This is a home that maximises the space available to it, using height to expand and compress areas, while displaying changing patterns of light across the various materials and textures.

In doing so, it creates amenity, excitement, and ever-changing interest, both inside and outside.

Glazed louvre window and joinery details in the master bedroom.

View to Master Ensuite floating vanity unit and mirror cabinet. Venetian blinds provide privacy to the bathroom from back garden. Large, glazed windows provide a well-lit bathroom space.

Glass louvre window detail.

“As the light changes in intensity, so do the colours that filter in, which gives a great transition from afternoon to evening and then to night,” says the owner.”

North Fitzroy House

“As the light changes in intensity, so do the colours that filter in, which gives a great transition from afternoon to evening and then to night,” says the owner.”

“Not having to turn on electric lights in the main living area until the sun has exhausted itself is a very gratifying feeling.”

Monument Magazine, issue 113.

North Fitzroy House

“As the light changes in intensity, so do the colours that filter in, which gives a great transition from afternoon to evening and then to night,” says the owner.”

“Not having to turn on electric lights in the main living area until the sun has exhausted itself is a very gratifying feeling.”

Monument Magazine, issue 113.

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