Project Of The Week
Architecture
Renovating
The Malvern Garden House: A Joyful Celebration of Nature + Family
Flexible living spaces, exquisite detailing and a jaw-dropping garden – see the incredible reworking of a 1930s home
In this Q&A series, we turn the spotlight on one thought-provoking renovation each week. Here, Peter Knights, architect and director at Taylor Knights, shares the journey of renovating and extending a large heritage home on a sloping site for a young family to give them contemporary, easy-flow living spaces that blend seamlessly with a new, lush garden.
The exterior before works
What was the house like originally?
A 1930s house set across three levels with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The planning was illogical; the house was disconnected from the rear garden, spaces were separated and closed-in rather than open-plan, and the living spaces didn’t take advantage of the northern orientation.
Did you use Houzz for this project?
Yes. The client created a Houzz Ideabook to share inspirational images for the new design.
What was the house like originally?
A 1930s house set across three levels with five bedrooms and three bathrooms. The planning was illogical; the house was disconnected from the rear garden, spaces were separated and closed-in rather than open-plan, and the living spaces didn’t take advantage of the northern orientation.
Did you use Houzz for this project?
Yes. The client created a Houzz Ideabook to share inspirational images for the new design.
The living room before works
What state was it in?
It was in fairly good condition but required the render to be patched and repainted and the roof repointed.
Inspired to renovate and extend? Find a local architect on Houzz to make it happen
What state was it in?
It was in fairly good condition but required the render to be patched and repainted and the roof repointed.
Inspired to renovate and extend? Find a local architect on Houzz to make it happen
The hallway before works
What wasn’t working for the clients about the house?
What wasn’t working for the clients about the house?
- Poor floor-plan layout.
- Separate, compartmentalised living spaces.
- Poor connection to the garden.
- Dark internal spaces lacking natural light.
The new pavilion housing the kitchen/dining area
Gained
Gained
- A new pavilion extension measuring approximately 50 square metres, which accommodates an open-plan kitchen and dining space.
- A seamless connection to the garden and landscape from the new pavilion.
- A new swimming pool that better integrates into the landscape.
- Contemporary, open-plan living spaces and improved spatial planning throughout.
- A new, self-contained studio with a bedroom and bathroom on the lower-ground floor.
The exterior before works
Brief
Essential to the client’s brief was to establish adaptable zoning that would nurture a young family, as well as provide comfortable accommodation for extended family.
This is perhaps most simply conveyed through the diverse yet equally distributed arrangement of shared and secluded spaces across the shifting levels and their subsequent relationship within the ‘layered garden’ of the overall site.
Brief
Essential to the client’s brief was to establish adaptable zoning that would nurture a young family, as well as provide comfortable accommodation for extended family.
This is perhaps most simply conveyed through the diverse yet equally distributed arrangement of shared and secluded spaces across the shifting levels and their subsequent relationship within the ‘layered garden’ of the overall site.
Ground-floor plan after works
What were the client’s must-haves?
What were the client’s must-haves?
- Extend and open up the living area to the garden.
- Retain the existing heritage features while adding a modern, open design with lots of natural light.
- Create a strong connection to the outdoors and garden.
First-floor plan after works
What exactly did you do?
What exactly did you do?
- Renovated all the rooms.
- Added a new 50-square-metre pavilion extension to the rear.
- Completely reconfigured the original, disjointed layout.
- Added a self-contained studio for visiting family and friends on the lower-ground floor.
Lower-ground floor after works
How much restoration work was required?
How much restoration work was required?
- Minor restoration work to the existing exterior.
- The interior was completely reworked with new linings, wiring, joinery and insulation.
Section after works
What was the budget?
Approximately $2.1 million (including the landscaping).
Where did most of it go?
On renovating the existing building, as the new extension is modest in size.
Approximately $2.1 million (including the landscaping).
Where did most of it go?
On renovating the existing building, as the new extension is modest in size.
Did you face any logistical challenges?
The site is stepped over three levels, which presented the biggest logistical challenge.
The site is stepped over three levels, which presented the biggest logistical challenge.
What was your thinking behind the use of concrete in the new pavilion?
Concrete provided the conceptual framework and structural integrity to enable the home to live long into the future.
The formal, yet immediately tactile, use of concrete evokes a sense of permanence and creates a beautiful juxtaposition between the polished and raw. A ‘fourth terrace’ of sorts, the pavilion immediately takes cues from its context, supporting an unseen rooftop garden overhead, with vegetation spilling over a smooth concrete lip, echoing that of the garden retainers below.
Concrete provided the conceptual framework and structural integrity to enable the home to live long into the future.
The formal, yet immediately tactile, use of concrete evokes a sense of permanence and creates a beautiful juxtaposition between the polished and raw. A ‘fourth terrace’ of sorts, the pavilion immediately takes cues from its context, supporting an unseen rooftop garden overhead, with vegetation spilling over a smooth concrete lip, echoing that of the garden retainers below.
This roof garden, along with the significant thermal mass of the new addition, actively provides warmth during the cooler winter months.
Why did you add sliding glass doors between the old and new parts of the house?
The double-glazed sliding doors are purposefully set within the horizontal concrete forms. They are designed to allow flexibility to close off spaces acoustically and visually, yet still let light through. They can be fully recessed into the wall to create a seamless connection to the garden.
The double-glazed sliding doors are purposefully set within the horizontal concrete forms. They are designed to allow flexibility to close off spaces acoustically and visually, yet still let light through. They can be fully recessed into the wall to create a seamless connection to the garden.
Timber formwork was used for the concrete ceilings to echo the timber grain in the rest of the house
What was your thinking behind the timber-clad ceiling in the living room?
Most of the original ceilings have been retained throughout, with the exception of the living room.
The timber was a way of bringing warmth and a sense of intimacy into this space. The same timber was used as formwork for the additional pavilion, which meant the timber grain leaves a lasting impression on the concrete ceiling.
The dark, recessed strips not only contain lighting but also hidden air-conditioning grilles that help regulate the indoor temperature.
Most of the original ceilings have been retained throughout, with the exception of the living room.
The timber was a way of bringing warmth and a sense of intimacy into this space. The same timber was used as formwork for the additional pavilion, which meant the timber grain leaves a lasting impression on the concrete ceiling.
The dark, recessed strips not only contain lighting but also hidden air-conditioning grilles that help regulate the indoor temperature.
Tell us about this round timber screen
The timber screen allows light and air to filter from the living area into the hallway behind, which was somewhat dark. This simple yet effective manoeuvre maintains the integrity of the original plan while creating a greater sense of connection between zones. It also creates a glimpse of the garden when you arrive from the carpark below, without fully revealing the space.
The circular motif was an adaptation of the soft arch echoed throughout the house.
The large panel to the left slides across to reveal a television and closes off the space to people walking past.
The timber screen allows light and air to filter from the living area into the hallway behind, which was somewhat dark. This simple yet effective manoeuvre maintains the integrity of the original plan while creating a greater sense of connection between zones. It also creates a glimpse of the garden when you arrive from the carpark below, without fully revealing the space.
The circular motif was an adaptation of the soft arch echoed throughout the house.
The large panel to the left slides across to reveal a television and closes off the space to people walking past.
The whisky bar is tucked away when not in use
The formal living area features a whisky bar that can be celebrated or discreetly hidden behind full sliding panelled joinery.
The formal living area features a whisky bar that can be celebrated or discreetly hidden behind full sliding panelled joinery.
Tell us about this gorgeous wall panelling
This panelling was retained from the existing house. The heritage panel work within the library and entrance hall traces throughout the existing interior spaces via steel mullions and joinery heights, forming a familiar datum that continues into the new pavilion.
This panelling was retained from the existing house. The heritage panel work within the library and entrance hall traces throughout the existing interior spaces via steel mullions and joinery heights, forming a familiar datum that continues into the new pavilion.
How did you create such a strong sense of indoor-outdoor flow?
The building intentionally immerses itself within the stepped landscape. The functional rezoning prioritises indoor-outdoor living with spaces for respite and engagement in both the existing and new buildings.
The divide between external and internal spaces has been blurred with the garden growing beside, over and around the new contemporary concrete pavilion structure.
The building intentionally immerses itself within the stepped landscape. The functional rezoning prioritises indoor-outdoor living with spaces for respite and engagement in both the existing and new buildings.
The divide between external and internal spaces has been blurred with the garden growing beside, over and around the new contemporary concrete pavilion structure.
The ensuite to the main bedroom
Key features of this project
Key features of this project
- Connection to the landscape.
- Custom details.
- Playfulness in the details and level changes.
- Concrete detailing.
- The immersion of landscape and architecture.
Why do you think the house works so well now?
Keen to harness the unique site, the result was a sensitive layering of reorientated internal spaces within the existing and new floor plans and a light-filled new pavilion, with contrasting and expansive new views across the north-facing garden.
Keen to harness the unique site, the result was a sensitive layering of reorientated internal spaces within the existing and new floor plans and a light-filled new pavilion, with contrasting and expansive new views across the north-facing garden.
Tell us about the incredible landscaping
The garden has a strong connection with the history of the site and its neighbouring context with use of sympathetic heritage materials, and the retention of three century-old trees.
The rear garden has been terraced over three levels. It works with the natural topography and creates a multi-dimensional landscape that can be used both actively and passively by the young family.
Every element of the garden supports the principles of the architecture. It seeks to provide flexible and adaptable spaces for the growing family, and offers an animated and immersive garden experience that captures the wonder and imagination of an adult’s and a child’s mind.
It’s a garden that provides perspective through respite and has the ability to respond to its micro-climate. The garden connects itself to place and is an integral player in the local ecology.
The garden has a strong connection with the history of the site and its neighbouring context with use of sympathetic heritage materials, and the retention of three century-old trees.
The rear garden has been terraced over three levels. It works with the natural topography and creates a multi-dimensional landscape that can be used both actively and passively by the young family.
Every element of the garden supports the principles of the architecture. It seeks to provide flexible and adaptable spaces for the growing family, and offers an animated and immersive garden experience that captures the wonder and imagination of an adult’s and a child’s mind.
It’s a garden that provides perspective through respite and has the ability to respond to its micro-climate. The garden connects itself to place and is an integral player in the local ecology.
Overall the garden is characterised by five values reflected in several elements:
- Playfulness and curiosity: Represented through the children’s garden and circulation of the outdoor space.
- Wellness: Expressed through the ability to connect with nature and grow produce.
- Beauty: Channeled through the verdant, layered native and exotic plant palette that changes with the seasons.
- Connection: Expressed through the retention and use of heritage materiality and century-old trees that assume a poetic value. It also works with the site’s existing topography.
- Sustainability: Seen via the thermal architectural benefits of a green roof and deciduous trees located around the north and western sides of the house.
Tell us about the new pool
It replaced a larger pool that took up much of the existing garden. It is designed to complement the architecture with a framed daybed view from the kitchen.
The teal tiles add a richness to the garden scheme. It was designed in collaboration with Ben Scott, the landscape architect.
It replaced a larger pool that took up much of the existing garden. It is designed to complement the architecture with a framed daybed view from the kitchen.
The teal tiles add a richness to the garden scheme. It was designed in collaboration with Ben Scott, the landscape architect.
How do the old and new parts of the house sit beside each other?
Symbolic of the home’s history, an ornate archway marks the transition from the entrance into the revived open-plan living space, with timber-clad ceilings and oak flooring.
The living room with the fireplace then bridges between the original house and the new pavilion to the rear. The size and bones of the room remain fairly similar to the original room proportions. However, we extended the width slightly to make it more useable.
We also opened the whole northern facade to showcase the garden.
From an aesthetic perspective, it was an exercise in restraint and simplicity to complement the original features.
We actively sought to identify typical motifs within the existing home from the outset, which have been reinterpreted holistically, forming both gestural and fine-grain guideposts throughout.
The heritage stepped-brick detail is echoed in the concrete corbelling, anchoring the new addition. The heritage panel work within the library and entrance hall delicately traces throughout the existing interior spaces and continues into the new pavilion.
Symbolic of the home’s history, an ornate archway marks the transition from the entrance into the revived open-plan living space, with timber-clad ceilings and oak flooring.
The living room with the fireplace then bridges between the original house and the new pavilion to the rear. The size and bones of the room remain fairly similar to the original room proportions. However, we extended the width slightly to make it more useable.
We also opened the whole northern facade to showcase the garden.
From an aesthetic perspective, it was an exercise in restraint and simplicity to complement the original features.
We actively sought to identify typical motifs within the existing home from the outset, which have been reinterpreted holistically, forming both gestural and fine-grain guideposts throughout.
The heritage stepped-brick detail is echoed in the concrete corbelling, anchoring the new addition. The heritage panel work within the library and entrance hall delicately traces throughout the existing interior spaces and continues into the new pavilion.
We adore the considered details in this house, such as the angled window – tell us more
The angled window in the reading room, as a new element within the original house, recalls a similarly angled window and corresponding seat in the kitchen pavilion. By picking up this cue and interpreting it into the old, a sense of continuity emerges.
The fact that the pavilion is glazed on two sides – combined with the placement of these two windows at opposite angles – enhances the visual link between the kitchen/dining space in the pavilion and the otherwise separate reading room.
The angled window in the reading room, as a new element within the original house, recalls a similarly angled window and corresponding seat in the kitchen pavilion. By picking up this cue and interpreting it into the old, a sense of continuity emerges.
The fact that the pavilion is glazed on two sides – combined with the placement of these two windows at opposite angles – enhances the visual link between the kitchen/dining space in the pavilion and the otherwise separate reading room.
Both windows orientate towards the garden, forming lookouts and observation points from the far sides of the lot.
The guest bathroom in the new studio
Key design aspects
Key fixtures and fittings
Key design aspects
Key fixtures and fittings
Interior materials palette
- Hanson Construction Materials concrete flooring.
- Tiento Tiles handmade 300 x 75-millimetre white gloss tiles to the kitchen.
- American Oak veneer and white two-pack to the kitchen joinery.
- Corian kitchen benchtop.
- Portsea Grey Limestone composite slab to the main bathroom benchtop.
- Green bathroom joinery by Made by Morgen.
Exterior materials palette
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this sensitively renovated house? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images to an Ideabook for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Not quite done yet? Take a peek at this clever design – A Pint-Size Prefab Townhouse Brimming With Character
- Ceramic mosaic tiles to the pool.
- Off-form concrete.
- Punches of black in columns in Dulux Ferrodor 810 Natural Grey.
- Custom Concrete Products Bamstone bluestone paving.
- Hungry Wolf Studio barbecue.
- Webforge aluminium grating.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this sensitively renovated house? Tell us in the Comments below. And remember to like this story, save the images to an Ideabook for inspiration and join the renovation conversation.
More
Not quite done yet? Take a peek at this clever design – A Pint-Size Prefab Townhouse Brimming With Character
Answers by Peter Knights, director at Taylor Knights
Who lives here: A couple with three young children
Location: Malvern, Victoria
Original house size: 530 square metres on a 928-square-metre site
House size after works: 550 square metres
Bedrooms and bathrooms before works: Five bedrooms and three bathrooms
Bedrooms and bathrooms after works: Five bedrooms and four bathrooms
Budget: $2.1 million including landscaping
Architects: Peter Knights, director; James Taylor, director; and Julie Sloane, architect; all at Taylor Knights
Builder: Dimpat
Landscape architect: Ben Scott Garden Design
Landscaping: Greener Visions
Steelwork: Tescher Forge
Joinery: Luna Joinery
Timber furniture and joinery made by: Made By Morgen
Engineer: Co-Struct
Building Surveyor: Fotia Group