Embedded Flexibility – Bloomfield House by Laura Wilson Architects

Situated within the inner-city Melbourne suburb of Ascot Vale, Bloomfield House sees the rear renovation of a 1925 Victorian double-fronted weatherboard home. Owned and designed by architect Laura Wilson, Director of Laura Wilson Architects, the addition focuses on improved efficiency and functionality, embedding an accessible flexibility within the interior spaces.

Designed for contemporary family life, Bloomfield House focuses on an ingrained flexibility to host and adjust to changing needs over time. As the home to a family of five, it was important that the structure functioned effectively and could be reconfigured as needed on a day-to-day basis. The addition provides private and communal areas for socialising, reading, relaxing and cooking, and yet, despite this flexibility, the home does not feel disjointed. Instead, Bloomfield House relies on its ability to connect through spatial configuration, making way for an array of functions without compromising on quality.

The interior seamlessly joins the old and new elements in a way that feels harmonious and precise, paying homage to the intentions of both halves.

The interior seamlessly joins the old and new elements in a way that feels harmonious and precise, paying homage to the intentions of both halves. Whilst the front of the home celebrates its heritage past – with ornate detailing remaining in the hallway arch, for instance – the newer spaces capture an elevated and modern aesthetic. The addition also highlights a strong visual connection to the native garden and the northern aspect of the site as well. Aluminium windows afford captivating connections to the garden; the openings not only provide a refreshing outlook but also extend the interior spaces, giving the living areas further depth.

A warm, earthy palette characterises the renovation, providing a crisp backdrop for moments of colour, seen in the dining room artwork by Christine Napanangka Michaels, the featured books on the living room bookshelf and the green tiles in the bathroom. Concrete stone benchtops also feature in both the kitchen and ensuite, whilst dark green and grey walls encourage a subtle link between differing rooms. In a similar vein, blackbutt engineered flooring features throughout the interior and provides a quiet foundation that aids in connecting the new with the original. Slivertop ash shiplap boards also encase the rear exterior, which will patina over time and exist in visual harmony with the garden.

As the home to a family of five, it was important that the structure functioned effectively and could be reconfigured as needed on a day-to-day basis.

Ideally positioned to host family life, Bloomfield House is purposefully employed with a dynamic and flexible interior space. Laura Wilson Architects connects the rear addition with the original structure, carving out an expressive and warm home that will endure for the years to come.