Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: A Lovingly Looked-After Home Opens Up to the World
A contemporary addition brings natural light into this 1940s brick bungalow, and highlights its heritage character
Two sisters previously owned this 1940s house in Lake Wendouree in Ballarat, Victoria, living in it for 60 years. They looked after the property extremely well, even keeping a record of maintenance such as biannual repainting, but while it had heritage character in spades, it lacked natural light and openness. “It was very dark and underwhelming,” says Nathan Porter of Porter Architects.
The new owners wanted a light-filled family home and engaged Porter to create a contemporary addition. “We kept as much original as possible, but the clients wanted glimpses of naturally lit spaces as soon as you enter the building, and there were some areas that needed a good tidy up,” he says.
The new owners wanted a light-filled family home and engaged Porter to create a contemporary addition. “We kept as much original as possible, but the clients wanted glimpses of naturally lit spaces as soon as you enter the building, and there were some areas that needed a good tidy up,” he says.
Porter designed the living area to achieve a sense of volume and to maximise natural light. The bi-fold glass doors open right up, and the pitched roof allows for clerestory windows to capture eastern and northern light, while the loftier ceiling enhances the sense of spaciousness inside.
“The glass opened the living area up to vistas of other beautiful details in houses around the neighbourhood,” says Porter. “I enjoy the way the glass frames views of the surrounding heritage chimneys, sky and trees.”
“The glass opened the living area up to vistas of other beautiful details in houses around the neighbourhood,” says Porter. “I enjoy the way the glass frames views of the surrounding heritage chimneys, sky and trees.”
“Our basic concept was to develop a finely crafted, sculptured contemporary volume that embraced the sun and referenced the original materials,” Porter explains. His plan created two architecturally delineated zones, with the bedrooms, bathrooms and study contained in the front existing house, and the contemporary, naturally lit extension accommodating the new living spaces.
Original floor plan (left), new floor plan (right)
Original floor plan (left), new floor plan (right)
The 1940s brick bungalow is located in the area of Lake Wendouree and protected by a Heritage Overlay, which means any development must be in a manner appropriate to the significance, character and appearance of the heritage area. Porter maintained the appearance of the front of the house.
The rear of the house faced north but was poorly utilised and closed off from the backyard. “It made sense to reinvent the rear of the house in a contemporary way so that it didn’t affect the streetscape but maximised solar access to the house,” says Porter.
The hallway, which serves as the central spine of the house, unifies the old and new. It leads to a small north-facing courtyard at the rear, and the glass doors allow natural light to filter through to the front of the house.
The existing hardwood floors and wood wall panelling had been maintained by the previous owners, and heritage embellishments such as leadlight windows, wall lights and brass decoration add to the period character of the house.
Recycled floorboards in the new extension match the existing floorboards in the front. “It creates a common thread and binds the internal contrast between old and new,” says Porter.
Recycled Tasmanian oak: Lal Lal Demolitions
The existing hardwood floors and wood wall panelling had been maintained by the previous owners, and heritage embellishments such as leadlight windows, wall lights and brass decoration add to the period character of the house.
Recycled floorboards in the new extension match the existing floorboards in the front. “It creates a common thread and binds the internal contrast between old and new,” says Porter.
Recycled Tasmanian oak: Lal Lal Demolitions
The ornate plasterwork on the ceiling was also in pristine condition.
The bedrooms have been imbued with light and warmth. The dark timber window frames and skirting boards stand out against the white walls and blue carpet, and the pendant lights with copper-coloured trim and interior tie the darker and lighter colours together.
Pendant lights: Beacon Lighting
Pendant lights: Beacon Lighting
The master bedroom has a contemporary ensuite with black tapware and fittings to contrast with the honed-marble tiles and Corian benchtops. Timber joinery and mirror frames add warmth to the space.
Black tapware: Phoenix
Black tapware: Phoenix
A study is located at the rear of the existing house where it has heritage detail but engages with the living space. The McInerneys sourced the patterned wallpaper themselves.
The kitchen, like the bathrooms, features natural materials: white honed-marble benchtops and splashback, and timber veneer joinery.
The white wall cabinets above the bench maintain the lightness of the space.
An integrated refrigerator is concealed within timber cupboards.
Integrated refrigerator: The Good Guys; Miele oven and stovetop; Asko dishwasher; Plumbtec
Integrated refrigerator: The Good Guys; Miele oven and stovetop; Asko dishwasher; Plumbtec
There are views from the kitchen across the dining table and into the courtyard, playroom and garden. The dining area receives sun from the east and north.
The playroom is designed as a transparent space adjacent to, but separated from, the living area, so the children can play independently but be easily seen. It can be closed off when needed, and has the flexibility to be adapted into a second living area at a later stage.
Porter used reclaimed 1940s bricks on the exterior of the addition to continue the union between old and new. Timber cladding is laid between the reclaimed and original bricks to make a clear delineation between the two.
“There was some detailing in the existing house brickwork, so we implemented brick detailing in the new volume but presented it in a contemporary way. The brick project also brings three dimensionality to the facade via shadows at different times of the day,” says Porter.
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More
Take a look at last week’s My Houzz: A Fun-Filled Family Abode With a Holiday Vibe
Tell us
What do you love about this home? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to like the story, save your favourite images and join in the conversation.
More
Take a look at last week’s My Houzz: A Fun-Filled Family Abode With a Holiday Vibe
Who lives here: Tom and Meeghan McInerney and their two young daughters
Location: Ballarat, Victoria
Size: 292 square metres; 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and a powder room
Architect: Porter Architects
The clients’ brief was for a new and modern light-filled addition to the rear of the house and to bring natural light into the existing areas of the house. They wanted to future-proof it for a growing family and needed to be able to accommodate guests.
The contemporary addition has an open-plan living, dining and kitchen area to one side, and playroom to the other. “The small courtyard between the volumes provides clear sightlines of the backyard and allows Tom and Meeghan to supervise their young daughters without hovering over them,” Porter says.