Bayside House | Cera Stribley

Bayside House
Melbourne | 2018

Residential

Domenic Cerantonio, Matthew Hainsworth, Chris Stribley

An original stately Victorian house with a poorly conceived 90’s extension is revived with a new addition, akin to a Japanese courtyard house that is designed with sensitivity and purposeful delineation from the original part of the house.

Attention to detail was required to bring the building back to life and to fulfill the client brief, the new section makes for a calm, contemporary and integrated family space. The extension also encompasses the new bedrooms and bathrooms.

Demarcating the transition from old to new is a black stone lined doorway reveal, where some of the brickwork is left exposed as a tactile and deliberate gesture to the buildings’ history. Similarly at the rear where there may have well been a coach house, the exposed bricks to the hall offer a poetic reference.

Designed to fulfill its role for the clients as a true refuge from the outside world. Ethereal shadows and reflections are cast both inside and out, the glazed doors slide away to reveal the living space to the courtyard which is cleverly positioned to be completely private to the adjacent neighbours.

The use of a darker colour palette was part of the clients’ design brief, and the selection of materials, both natural and hand finished, intentionally crafts streamlined, detail-oriented spaces that counter balance and elevate the decorative heritage house.

Our Solution

The existing site was occupied by a single-storey Victorian-era residence, with detached garage and home studio/office. The site lies within a heritage overlay.

The non-original extension to the rear of the dwelling was demolished to make way for new living quarters, while the original Victorian dwelling and a brick outbuilding at the rear of the site were retained.

A potential building mass is placed on the site to appreciate the opportunities and constraints to work within created by the surrounding context.

The proposed mass is then cut into two primary forms creating an internal courtyard within, this in turn minimises any overshadowing on adjacent private open spaces and provides privacy for the residents from the laneway and adjoining apartment building.

The two primary forms are then cut to create a roof form that slopes downward from the centre of the site. This shape creates an opportunity for a feature ceiling height above the proposed new living quarters while providing a sensitive interface to neighbours. This also means the highest point of the proposed extension is concealed in the centre of the existing dwelling, and cannot be seen from the Robe Street.

The two primary forms are then connected along the northern boundary by a low single storey adjacent to the existing garage. The reduction in height ensures overshadowing is minimised on both adjacent private open space and on the internal courtyard.

The proposed form adjacent to the existing building which will house the proposed master bedroom is setback 10 meters from the existing facade. The height of this addition is kept below the eave line of the existing house, and a 700mm recess is created to clearly separate these two elements. The design of this form is then completed using the most minimal detailing possible, ensuring it reads as a recessive element.

The contemporary addition is finished with a combination of black framed glazing, dark masonry and charcoal metal cladding to create a timeless and recessive form, complimented by generous landscaping.