In 2014, Baldasso Cortese were approached by a young family who owned a double-fronted weatherboard Victorian cottage in the picturesque suburb of Middle Park. The house and layout had remained relatively untouched, and whilst it served them well for many years, a growing young family of 2 energetic boys and 1 photogenic cat meant that it no longer suited their needs. The house was a series of traditional spaces, a single small bathroom doubling as a laundry, and a south-facing living area. Whilst it retained original charm and architectural features, the house had little connection to the outside environment and provided no opportunity for the parents or kids to retreat to their own space. In addition, heating/cooling and lighting systems were old, culminating in a house which did not respond to modern day family needs.
Maintaining the existing front section of the house and the original features in the bedrooms, Baldasso Cortese sought to remove the remaining part of the house to make way for a contemporary extension, comprising an open plan living/dining/ kitchen area leading to an outdoor entertaining area, as well as internal north courtyard, providing natural light to the core of the house. This core zone of the home is set down from the existing floor level, to maximise ceiling heights whilst staying with the height limitation of the heritage overlay. A new feature stair is located centrally, leading to the first floor master retreat.
The project is a series of complementary contrasts – the delicate light detail of the heritage façade against the contemporary colorbond and brickwork to the new extension; the lightness and texture of living area against the darker timbers and ceiling bulkheads in the kitchen. The kitchen is series of fingerprint-proof black and white laminated joinery, with concrete style benchtops and feature brass detailing – creating both a practical and aesthetically pleasing outcome – with a large feature skylight, flooding natural light into the heart of the home.
Working closely with the consultant team through the design process, and the appointed contractor, One Construction Group, during construction, Baldasso Cortese managed local authority and regulatory requirements, keeping the client informed at all stages, and seeking cost-efficient outcomes to design and site problems. With many small scale residential projects, client-led changes to the design arose during the build process. We helped manage and control these changes to ensure minimal impact to programme and budget.
Moving in to their new home in August 2017, the family have immediately created a connection to their new environment – having commented on many occasions that the hub of the home is very much the kitchen – with no dining table, the central cantilevered island becomes the family dining area, acting as the gathering place – from breakfast with the kids, to coffee with friends. The clients are still continually falling in love with their new family forever home – a sense of belonging and comfort created through a collaborative design process with Baldasso Cortese.
Material Used :
1. Colorbond
a. new roofing: windspray – trimdek profile;
b. connecting roof wedges, cappings, box gutters + downpipes: monument – flat sheet
c. main first floor cladding: monument – standing seam
2. Roger Seller - Basin Tapware, Basins, Bathroom Accessories
3. Astra Walker - Kitchen Tapware, Bath Spout, Shower Head and all taps and accessories
4. Wilsonart - Kitchen Cabinetry
5. Top City - Duropal Bench
6. Caroma - Bath
7. Cerdomus - Floor Tiles (living area) & Bathroom Wall Tiles
8. Earp Brothers - Floor & Wall tiles (ensuite)
9. Woodcut - Internal Timber Stair Cladding
10. Rugs Carpet and Design - Carpet
11. Dulux - Internal Paint
12. Svenska - Master Bedhead
13. Austral Bricks - Bricks
14. Smeg - Kitchen Integrated Appliances
15. Sculpt Fireplaces & Woodpecker - Fireplace
16. Light Project - Feature Lighting
17. Living Edge - Lounge Pendant
18. Caesarstone - Kitchen Benchtop
19. Echopanel - Acoustic Pinboard Panel
