We were approached by the owners of Lucky House in Williamstown to transform this double fronted Victorian house into a welcoming and expansive home for their growing family.
The project included the restoration of the original heritage home and the addition of a new living wing that drew upon the clients love of mid century design. Connecting and blurring the boundaries between old and new, and inside and outside was essential in creating a perfect backdrop for this modern family.
What was the brief?
The brief for this project was to bring in more natural light, make the communal spaces more liveable and connected, create a strong relationship between the house and garden, provide an environmentally responsive home, maintain the heritage features of the original house and to draw on Mick and Felicity’s love of mid century design for the new expansive living areas.
What were the key challenges?
The front heritage section of the house had become tired and required extensive renovations. The client was determined to bring the house up to meet modern energy efficiency standards while still maintaining the original Victorian features and character.
The rear living area of the house was a 1990’s addition that lacked spatial connections, had poor thermal qualities, little natural light and minimal connection to the much loved garden. The living areas lacked atmosphere and did not reflect the family’s individual style.
Who are the clients and what's interesting about them?
A couple Mick and Felicity, their two teenage children Stella & Louisa, and dog Lucky live in Lucky House. Located in the bay side suburb of Williamstown, Lucky House was purchased several years ago as the families “forever house”. With the double fronted Victorian growing tired and the girls growing up the house needed to be upgraded and expanded to accommodate the changing needs of the family and to better reflect the family’s lifestyle.
The renovation is very much a testament to the passion and perseverance of Felicity & Mick. With a love of design, they had some very clear ideas about their dream home. From the outset they knew that they wanted to not only be involved in the design process, but to enjoy it. It is a phase that often takes even longer than the build itself! It took three distinct attempts (with various parties and changes in scope) and as many years, before the final design came to fruition, so three times lucky – Lucky House!
What were the solutions?
Connecting and blurring the boundaries between old and new, inside and outside was essential for this modern family home. A concept developed around the creation of frames: framing spaces and framing views, internally and externally.
Simple black forms frame the much-loved old pear tree and an opening to the sky above. The window seat and timber battened deck are treated likewise, as the viewer looks from the outside in, and from the inside out. These framed transitional spaces invite the inhabitants to rest between domains, enjoying the best of both worlds.
Internally new living additions were added but given lowered timber ceilings, creating warmth, but also helping to manipulate the volumes to identify different areas and create spatial variety: kitchen, dining, day beds and window seats. The lowered rooflines also provided an opportunity to bring in high level shafts of natural light. The expanses of glass change and transform the spaces throughout the various times of day and ensure leafy views from every room.
A restrained pallet of materials and simple forms create an enduring and contemporary addition to a heritage house.
To provide an environmentally responsive home wall, ceiling and under floor insulation was added and double gazing installed. The living extension was opened up and expanses of glass designed in to capture the Norhtern orientation and create cross ventilation.
Material Used:
1. Lysaght panel rib cladding in Night Sky
2. Black Butt timber battens
3. Stringy Bark strip timber flooring
4. Stringy Bark strip timber ceiling lining
5. Balck Butt timber veneer joinery
6. Matte Black laminate joinery
7. Inax Wall Tiles
8. Custom architectural steelwork in matte black
9. Cheminess Philippe double sided fireplace
10. White subway tiles
11. Faucet Strommen tapware
12. AWS glazed stacking doors and retractable insect screens
13. ISM Objects feature wall lighting
14. M Douglass Design pendant light
