The Richmond House is located halfway up the Richmond Hill in the historically rich suburb of Richmond. With a council Heritage Overlay, the two front bedrooms at street level being the original building, this and the front façade was retained. The old lean-too addition to the rear was removed and due to a steep site slope was replaced with a 3-level addition. Careful attention was given to how the new upper-level rear addition sat within the streetscape and not dominate the existing building so using mirrored cladding and glazing that reflected the sky and faced the street, the new area of building is camouflaged behind old part. The site also has rear access from another street which meant we had the opportunity to design a second “front façade” addressing a completely different surrounding context. The sleeping areas are located to the rear at street level with living areas over enveloped in vertical standing seam cladding folding and raking back internally enclosing the 3rd level roof deck and study.
With the slope to the rear almost half a floor level below, the planning of the spaces and layout of the rooms revolved around a central open staircase providing access to the staggered levels between the old building the new. The from the entry the living areas are found at the top of the open stair which is constructed of steel, concrete and timber allowing natural light and ventilation to filter to all areas of the house. Looping through the kitchen and up the return stair accesses the study and roof deck. Internal finishes such as the retained pressed red face brickwork, black steel, hard plaster walls and an amazing exposed timber board formed, insitu concrete ceiling perfectly suit the industrial aesthetic of the suburb. The existing rooms were refurbished with new contemporary fixtures and fittings that suit the retained original features and trims.
Lastly, the best feature of the home is the amazing view from the top where the huge study window frames out Richmond Hill and St Ignatius Church to the east and a jaw dropping, unimpeded view of the whole city with the MCG in the foreground through the open-ended roof deck to the west. It is a high functioning urban, modern addition placed within a historical setting.
