Enjoy 2 free articles a month. For unlimited access, get a membership now.

Northcote Residence

Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design

SAVE SUBMISSION
Silver

1 / 10

Comments
Innovation
Functionality
Creativity
Eco-Social Impact
Total
JURY VOTES
House
7.45
7.36
7.45
6.82
7.27
Client
N/A
Floor area
250 ㎡
Completion
2020

We designed this extension and renovation of a Northcote Edwardian home for a young family of six, which the owners skillfully managed and built. Their unique craftsmanship, material choices and dedication to detail resulted in a masterful design that feels generous and warm throughout. The house was planned with separate parent and children zones, located at opposite ends of the house with a central living space connecting the two spaces. The newly built family living room is a voluminous and tactile space, featuring exposed Tasmanian Oak timber panels on the walls and pitched ceiling, complementing the reclaimed brick walls and handmade Anchor Ceramic tiles. Large sliding doors expose this spacious room to natural light, leading to a raised deck for outdoor entertaining. The tactile detailing extends to the exterior of the house and features a saw-tooth roofline, raw cedar shingles and shiplap cladding on the walls. These timber elements will silver in time, allowing the new extension to settle into its surroundings. Key drivers in the structural design of the house were the family’s wishes to maximise natural light and mimimise external acoustic interference. We responded with the inclusion of a double height wall on the boundary and ceiling construction details that the owner and their trusted craftsmen constructed. Customised joinery and storage units are found throughout the house in unexpected locations, offering dual access to separated spaces. Patricia Urquiola door handles and handmade paper pendants reflect the owner’s appreciation for crafted pieces, which will endure with the home and family as they grow.