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From Victorian Butcher's Shop to Show-Stopping Contemporary Home
See how an architect balanced old and new in the extension of a three-storey Victorian terrace with a fascinating past
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, Paul Connor, architect and partner at COSO Architecture, shares the journey of extending and reinvigorating a former butcher’s shop and residence into a light-filled, modern home for a large family – all while honouring the building’s interesting history.
Describe the house
A spacious three-storey Victorian terrace with a butcher’s shop on the ground floor and a residence above it.
Inspired to extend? Find a local architect on Houzz to help make it happen
A spacious three-storey Victorian terrace with a butcher’s shop on the ground floor and a residence above it.
Inspired to extend? Find a local architect on Houzz to help make it happen
What were you tasked with?
The restoration and reconfiguration of an inner-city family home, including a new rear addition.
How long did it take?
One year for the approvals process and eight months for construction.
The restoration and reconfiguration of an inner-city family home, including a new rear addition.
How long did it take?
One year for the approvals process and eight months for construction.
Brief
To redesign a three-storey butcher’s shop turned Victorian-Italianate home into a functional, contemporary house for a family of five.
To redesign a three-storey butcher’s shop turned Victorian-Italianate home into a functional, contemporary house for a family of five.
What were the client’s must-haves?
- Efficient space planning to maximise private and shared spaces.
- The design needed to incorporate materials that suit contemporary living.
Gained
A new rear extension housing:
A new rear extension housing:
- An open-plan kitchen/living/dining area.
- Double-height ceiling to the living space.
- Two new bedrooms.
- Two new bathrooms.
- Laundry.
- A new cellar and cinema in the lower-ground section of the original part of the house.
Tell us about the beautiful mews doors
The mews doors are located on the ground floor of what used to be the butcher’s shop, where they connected to a carriageway leading out to stables.
The doors mark the end of the old building and the beginning of the new one in a style that evokes the memory of the home’s former use.
Browse more images of Australian entryways on Houzz
The mews doors are located on the ground floor of what used to be the butcher’s shop, where they connected to a carriageway leading out to stables.
The doors mark the end of the old building and the beginning of the new one in a style that evokes the memory of the home’s former use.
Browse more images of Australian entryways on Houzz
How does the new addition sit beside the original part of the house?
It happily contrasts with the original architecture of the home. Care was taken within the existing residence to interpret the Victorian details, including a laser-cut sheet-steel balustrade that mirrors period detailing, but in negative.
It happily contrasts with the original architecture of the home. Care was taken within the existing residence to interpret the Victorian details, including a laser-cut sheet-steel balustrade that mirrors period detailing, but in negative.
Sliding doors between the new dining area and the courtyard track into a pocket beside the kitchen bench to create a smooth link between inside and out
We adore the cut-outs in the concrete – tell us about them
The one on the outside wall provides a sightline from the terrace and kitchen to the pool. Concrete is a ‘plastic’ material so you can have a lot of fun creating shapes.
We adore the cut-outs in the concrete – tell us about them
The one on the outside wall provides a sightline from the terrace and kitchen to the pool. Concrete is a ‘plastic’ material so you can have a lot of fun creating shapes.
Copper cladding to the exterior adds warmth and interest to the facade
What challenges or constraints did you face?
Dealing with the local council’s heritage office was frustrating. But wonderful clients and builders made all other constraints easy to manage.
The construction restraints included discovering an old well, which we retained and highlighted within the new design. Plus, access is always a problem in Balmain and Birchgrove.
What challenges or constraints did you face?
Dealing with the local council’s heritage office was frustrating. But wonderful clients and builders made all other constraints easy to manage.
The construction restraints included discovering an old well, which we retained and highlighted within the new design. Plus, access is always a problem in Balmain and Birchgrove.
Tell us about your use of concrete and metal in the space
The scale of the space required a more monumental palette of materials.
The scale of the space required a more monumental palette of materials.
Concrete kitchen benchtops fold down to the grey-tiled floors on the lower floor.
On the upper floor, a hanging plasterboard ceiling folds upwards to catch light and breezes through a clerestory window.
Elsewhere, material selection and construction techniques vary little from established building practice.
On the upper floor, a hanging plasterboard ceiling folds upwards to catch light and breezes through a clerestory window.
Elsewhere, material selection and construction techniques vary little from established building practice.
Key design aspects
Interior materials palette
Exterior materials palette
Your turn
What are your favourite aspects of this beautiful addition? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another inspiring extension? Take a look at this New Look for an Old Charmer: A Time-Warp Bungalow is Transformed
Interior materials palette
- Polished concrete flooring.
- Concrete floor tiles.
- Rendered masonry.
Exterior materials palette
- Concrete pavers.
- Copper cladding and rendered masonry.
Your turn
What are your favourite aspects of this beautiful addition? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Want to see another inspiring extension? Take a look at this New Look for an Old Charmer: A Time-Warp Bungalow is Transformed
Answers by Paul Connor, architect and partner at COSO Architecture
Who lives here: A couple with three children
Location: Birchgrove, NSW
Budget: Around $1.8 million
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Three bedrooms and 1.5 bathrooms
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Four bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms
Original size of the house: Around 185 square metres
Size after works: Around 250 square metres
Architect: Paul Connor, architect and partner, and Mila Keane, architect, both at COSO Architecture
Builder: GNC Quality