Camberwell Project by Jane Cameron Architects

Approached by a client seeking to update a humble Californian Bungalow, Jane Cameron Architects were faced with an exciting yet challenging task – to create a harmonious coexistence between the old and new.

The brief for Camberwell Project was to transform the original home in a way that would make it more contemporary and functional without neglecting its original architecture. Also central to the renovation were the needs of the clients. As they approach retirement, the clients sought a smaller and more manageable space that would see them into the future.

The brief for Camberwell Project was to transform the original home in a way that would make it more contemporary and functional without neglecting its original architecture.

Thoughtful new additions are made to ensure the house is both functional and practical. The original bungalow had a split-level extension, which posed potential issues in terms of mobility. As such, it was replaced with an accessible new addition that combined the living, dining, kitchen and laundry areas on one level oriented to receive northern light. This volume was also set back into the site to preserve the residence’s heritage facade. Further intregrations include skylights that invite more light into the home, while a paved alfresco dining area with a Japanese-inspired garden connects the extension to the outdoors.

It was important to retain as many heritage details of the original bungalow as possible. Existing timber floors are kept in certain parts of the home and are complemented by newly added Australian native hardwood. Jane Cameron Architects also reinstated original skirtings, doors and architraves.

Inside, a neutral colour scheme dominates, with pared-back furnishings and sheer curtains creating a sense of calm that connects both sections.

The old and the new are also unified through materiality and furnishings. Most notably, the soft, white render of the original building is used for the Colourbond standing seam of the new addition. Inside, a neutral colour scheme dominates, with pared-back furnishings and sheer curtains creating a sense of calm that connects both sections. In the kitchen, Artedomus Fiandre Cloudy Core tiles, granite benches and timber joinery also come together in harmony.

Camberwell Project is all about harmonious juxtapositions: between the old and the new, textures and materiality and the needs of the present and future. Jane Cameron Architects merges each with ease, creating a contemporary home that coexists with its rich past in a way that feels soft and inviting – signs of a home that will serve the clients for many years to come.

Architecture and interior design by Jane Cameron Architects. Build by James McBride & Associates. Landscape design by Lisa Ellis Gardens and Lucy Draffin.