Extending a Narrative – Ferras Place by Three C Architects

As an exercise in rescuing a much-neglected heritage home, the resulting renovations and extension to Ferras Place see a previous forgotten narrative given a new life. Three C Architects combines a respectful reinvigoration and extensive renovation to inject a welcomed freshness and celebrate the home’s crafted past.

Set comfortably amongst similar era homes in lively South Melbourne, Ferras Place stands as an important representation of its original style and the common vernacular of the area. Behind its highly detailed and crafted façade lay the neglected remnants of the home’s previous life, left void of maintenance or improvement for some eighty years. Working with a somewhat untouched canvas, Three C Architects collaborated closely with the client (with whom the practice had worked previously) to bring back to life the original detailing and combine a series of newer and more contemporary insertions that still respectfully align within the same heritage veil. The result sees a calm and muted home emerge, subtly giving life through a controlled tonal and blue-hued palette.

Working with a somewhat untouched canvas, Three C Architects collaborated closely with the client (with whom the practice had worked previously) to bring back to life the original detailing and combine a series of newer and more contemporary insertions that still respectfully align within the same heritage veil.

Built by Build 2 Pty Ltd with landscaping by Lisa Ellis Gardens, the same heritage principles utilised internally are applied in the external works, ensuring there is a continued lineage within the site envelope.The balance between old and new, while ensuring neither overpowered the other was key. The same ideas around proportion and formality ensure the home and its garden are viewed under the same considered guise and stand as a cohesive unit. While the older elements are retained and restored, newer elements are carefully integrated gradually, opening up to the rear where a combined living, dining and kitchen space become the common gathering drawcard of the home.

Custom screens provide a layer of both protection and privacy to the rear, and a new set of principles are established to delineate between the eras. The old is maintained as a mass whole with smaller openings and windows carved into it, while the new sees larger glazed panes connect the inner workings of the home to the landscape and the site proper. To contrast the highly detailed elements of the original home, the new manifests as a much cleaner and uninterrupted series of lines, with a strong priority and focus placed on the connection to natural light and integrated passive design principles, ensuring climatic comfort.

While the older elements are retained and restored, newer elements are carefully integrated gradually, opening up to the rear where a combined living, dining and kitchen space become the common gathering drawcard of the home.

Combining both the simple and the bold, the new insertions and revised elements of Ferras Place see it emerge as a fresh and relevant home, where Three C Architects have carefully maintained and integratedits layered and storied past.