The new open plan living area flows into the cool dining space that overlooks the deck outside with the small kitchen in white sitting next to it. A drawing room sits between the living room and the kitchen and acts as a connecting and transitional zone. Two relaxing bedrooms and a bathroom on the top level complete the exquisite makeover that finds a balance between modernity and classic elegance!
A roughcast concrete river wall stands between the house and the river’s edge and sets clear boundaries while the silhouette of the house and the ‘raw’ nature of the elements used in construction draw from local architecture and its historic industrial past.
The smart insertion connects the main house with the two new bedrooms at the rear of the lot and turns a classic Melbourne residence with brick façade into a unique and exquisite contemporary dwelling. Designed by Steffen Welsch Architects the rejuvenated home hosts a family of five thanks to the improved and extended living area.
With a neutral color scheme and fabulous décor that adds color and pattern there is a great balance here between native decorative elements and clean contemporary design. Seemingly both dramatic and understated it is the hardwood battens that give the top level of the house its distinct identity regulate ventilation and provide an additional layer of privacy.
Rough-sawn ore pine and lovely timber beams give the interior cozy warmth even as the concrete fireplace and bathroom offer cool textural contrast. With an audacious design and an even more awesome backdrop this is indeed a dream getaway in every sense of the word!
Some of the original features of the building like the façade wood paneling on the walls and skirting were carefully preserved restored and given a new lease on life while the floor plan of both the lower living level and the top bedroom level were considerably altered.
It is the creative folks from DADA & Partners that came up with a design that borrows from the aesthetics of a ‘gallery’ even while offering ample privacy and a smart interaction between the different public zones.