Ballarat Barn

by Eliza Blair Architecture

The beautifully restored double fronted Victorian home already had a lot going for it as a starting point for this project. Just a short stroll from Lake Wendouree, the social heart of Ballarat, it is admired by many locals as one of Ballarat’s finest examples of heritage homes. The brief for the extension was not to compete, not to say ‘look at me’ and most importantly, to respect this grand old dame. The design centres around the existing mature silver birch tree. Two barn pavilions are arranged around this tree, one containing the new kitchen, dining and living area, and the other containing the garage, shed and carport. With the benefit of a wide north facing block, the addition has a full width wall of glazing to capture the views of the garden and that special tree. The shingles and timber cladding combine to add texture and layers, distinguishing the addition from the original heritage white weatherboard home.