Contemporary take on heritage grace - Kensington
This renovation to a single-fronted Victorian workers’ cottage took a modern-classic approach to a once-modest home. The owners had outgrown their heritage building in its row of early 1900s workers cottages, but they didn’t want to leave their neighbourhood.
Our approach was to create a new minimalist addition to the rear, designed to almost double the family’s living space while making the most of the courtyard for entertaining. Adopting the simple hues and form of the original Victorian house, the contemporary heritage building design features a striking gable roof with clerestory windows flooding the home in natural light. Structural framing and roof cladding elements were cleverly detailed to be concealed by the exposed structural gable frame to ensure the design’s integrity.
This expansive new open plan kitchen and living area flows seamlessly through to a new, private courtyard garden. An additional internal courtyard brings light, greenery and fresh air into the core of the home. Nifty storage, laundry, and study nooks make the most of space in this tight, inner city block. Polished concrete floors with hydronic heating feature throughout for warmth, low maintenance and to complement the white on white simple yet balanced built form.
The design and build was a speedy and stress-free process – we achieved a planning permit without any conditions, which is a rarity for inner urban heritage building sites!
heritage home renovation
indoor-outdoor living
outdoor entertaining
natural light
gable roof
polished concrete floors
clerestory windows