All About Contrast: A Sun-Drenched Modern Addition to an Old Home
See how an architect worked with an owner-builder to bring light, space and contemporary touches to a Melbourne home
Georgia Madden
12 August 2022
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation, redesign or new build each week. Here, architect Justin Morris, principal at Ardent Architects, reveals how he collaborated with an owner-builder to realise a family’s dream home. Morris replaced a light-starved and poorly laid out rear addition in this heritage house with a sleek, modern design that captures the light at all times of day, while also adding an extra bedroom and bathroom.
Images by Spacecraft Media. Answers by Justin Morris, principal at Ardent Architects.
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Northcote, Victoria
House size before works: 130 square metres
House size after works: 177 square metres
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms, one bathroom
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Budget: Around AU$500,000
Architect: Justin Morris, principal at Ardent Architects
Builder: Owner-builder
Who lives here: A couple with two children
Location: Northcote, Victoria
House size before works: 130 square metres
House size after works: 177 square metres
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms, one bathroom
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms, two bathrooms
Budget: Around AU$500,000
Architect: Justin Morris, principal at Ardent Architects
Builder: Owner-builder
Can you describe the house?
A single-level house built in the early 1900s with a dark and awkward rear extension built around 2018.
Thinking of extending? Find a local architect on Houzz to help
A single-level house built in the early 1900s with a dark and awkward rear extension built around 2018.
Thinking of extending? Find a local architect on Houzz to help
Floor plan before works.
What was your scope of work?
To design and document the project for the client, who acted as the owner-builder.
What was your scope of work?
To design and document the project for the client, who acted as the owner-builder.
Floor plan after works.
What was the client’s brief?
To remove the 2018 rear extension and replace it with a light-filled, contemporary addition housing an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
The client also wanted an additional bathroom and to add built-in wardrobes to all the bedrooms.
What was the client’s brief?
To remove the 2018 rear extension and replace it with a light-filled, contemporary addition housing an open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
The client also wanted an additional bathroom and to add built-in wardrobes to all the bedrooms.
What were the client’s must-haves?
- A light and bright living area that didn’t require artificial lighting during daylight hours.
- A fireplace in the living area.
What look and feel did you want to create?
We were looking to maintain the period detailing in the existing portion of the house and then open up to a modern rear living area.
We were looking to maintain the period detailing in the existing portion of the house and then open up to a modern rear living area.
What is in the new extension?
An open-plan kitchen/living/dining area, plus a bathroom and laundry.
An open-plan kitchen/living/dining area, plus a bathroom and laundry.
What is the transition like between the old and new parts of the house?
There is a clear delineation between new and old parts of the house defined by a steel-framed door in the corridor.
There is a clear delineation between new and old parts of the house defined by a steel-framed door in the corridor.
A steel-framed glazed door marks the transition between the old and new parts of the house.
What was your thinking behind the colour and materials palette in the new extension? We wanted a classic black-and-white scheme with warmth coming from the engineered timber floors.
Why do you think the house works so well?
Because there is a clear delineation between the living and bedroom areas. There is also a lovely sense of flow between the interior and garden in the new rear addition.
Because there is a clear delineation between the living and bedroom areas. There is also a lovely sense of flow between the interior and garden in the new rear addition.
What are the defining features of the house now?
- A rear extension filled with natural light at all times of day.
- Full-height glazing to the north.
- A high ceiling in the living area.
- Luxurious bathrooms.
- A striking steel-framed glass door between the existing house and the new extension.
Where did most of the AU$500,000 budget go?
On the new extension.
On the new extension.
Tell us about the generous glazing
The floor-to-ceiling windows provide daylight to the rear living area throughout the day, which faces north.
A large eave on the extension protects the area from extreme summer sun.
The floor-to-ceiling windows provide daylight to the rear living area throughout the day, which faces north.
A large eave on the extension protects the area from extreme summer sun.
A striking monochromatic kitchen with a huge island defines the new open-plan extension.
A built-in study area adjacent to the living area creates room for the family to work from home or study.
Did you do any work in the original part of the house?
All the finishes in the existing rooms were redone. Wardrobes were added, and a walk-in wardrobe was converted to a main ensuite.
The original family bathroom was converted into a bedroom.
All the finishes in the existing rooms were redone. Wardrobes were added, and a walk-in wardrobe was converted to a main ensuite.
The original family bathroom was converted into a bedroom.
Fixtures and finishes
Many of the fixtures and finishes were chosen on the spot by the owner-builder and can’t be identified, but these details were included in the architect’s specifications list:
Many of the fixtures and finishes were chosen on the spot by the owner-builder and can’t be identified, but these details were included in the architect’s specifications list:
- Caesarstone benchtops and splashback in kitchen, and on the vanity tops in the bathrooms.
- Prestige Flooring engineered oak flooring.
- Reece Kado Lux Oval freestanding bath.
- Reece Milli tapware.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another great reno? Check out this Melbourne Houzz: A Heritage Gem Reborn on a Tight Triangular Site
What’s your favourite feature in this renovation? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another great reno? Check out this Melbourne Houzz: A Heritage Gem Reborn on a Tight Triangular Site
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I have north facing living room, it’s lovely, but without some sort of sunscreen everything fades and discolour. Our floor boards are faded beyond recognition next to the door opening and leather lounge had cracks in the areas exposed to sun.
All this windows and doors just look good but not too practical unless you have unlimited funds to replace furniture and floors.
I had to install sunscreen roller blinds to deal with the problem but it cuts out warmth from the sun in winter.
KK - as you pointed out, the aim is to let the sun in (in winter, and it will be excluded in summer by virtue of its higher angle ) so need to focus on sun resistant finishes and furnishings. Outdoor fabrics have come a long way in recent years, as have the options for floor finishes.