Tasteful transition

For this renovation, transition between refreshed existing home and new extension is achieved through thoughtful material choices and a wrapped round verandah

Upon entering the extension's stepped down ground floor

Connections with the outdoors are bolstered with expansive

A herringbone floor creates a dramatic feature in

The formal lounge in the original dwelling.

Section showing connections. - Tasteful transition -

Renovation by Star Architecture

From the renovating architect:

Located on a quiet tree-lined streetscape between the lively Elsternwick shopping centre on Glen Huntly Road to the north and the major thoroughfare of Nepean Highway to the south, this house balances these environments to provide a generously proportioned home fit for entertaining as well as a private haven for a family.

With the ambition to retain and utilise the character of the existing weatherboard Edwardian home, the scope of demolition was minimised and meticulous attention paid to restoring the front section of the dwelling.

The resulting renovation not only focussed on freshening the retained home's exterior but also sought to improve its energy efficiency and performance to ensure it will remain resilient and versatile well into the future alongside the new addition.

An extension of the existing east facing verandah to wrap around the northern side of the existing house assisted in shaping a respectful transition from the lightweight weatherboard construction to the heavier presence of the double storey brick veneer addition.

Both the existing front and the new rear extension are painted a matching shade of white, Further aiding the transition and aesthetic consistency while reducing overall visual bulk,.

Acknowledging the proximity of the site to Port Phillip Bay, the material palette of the rear addition juxtaposes the robust and hardwearing properties of its external brick veneer walls with the timber batten screening that will age and blend gracefully as a result of its weather exposure.

While the retained front section of the home hosts the more traditional and secluded areas including the master suite and formal lounge, it is upon entering the stepped down ground floor living areas that the home celebrates contemporary living and its surrounding landscaped backyard.

Connections with the outdoors are bolstered with expansive glazed windows and doors, allowing an abundance of northern sunlight to flood and heat the living areas throughout winter.

Glazed louvre windows provide refreshing cross ventilation in summer that was largely absent in the home's previous state.

The first floor functions as a separate childrens zone, containing three further bedrooms and a separate retreat area.

A private west-facing balcony constructed of hit-and-miss brickwork and openable timber batten screens connects the three bedrooms and doubles as a mechanism for sun shading to the bedrooms in summer while continuing to allow air circulation.

Across both the ground and first floors, timber lined window seats are utilised to produce further visual connections with the surrounding landscaping as well as offering moments of sanctuary within the new addition.

Upon entering the backyard the self-contained BBQ pod and external meals area operate as an expansion of the adjacent internal living and dining spaces.

The directly adjacent swimming pool, which abuts the kitchen and living room, enlivens and reconnects with the interior spaces through the additional sunlight it reflects through the full height windows.

The landscaped surrounds, fully consisting of native and/or drought resistant plantings, consolidates the mission of the brief to enhance the overall state and resilience of the residence and its site.