Amess by Martino Leah Architects

Martino Leah Architects has deftly navigated the challenges of renovating Amess, breaking it free from the constraints of the Victorian era yet maintaining a respectful nod to its origins.

This ambitious project demonstrates how a clearly aligned brief and vision can transform a once-typical terrace into a light-filled, modern sanctuary that meets the needs of a young family. Row terraces are often characterised by a lack of natural light and tight floor plans unconducive to modern living. To address this, the design focused on maximising daylight through demolishing previous additions, reconfiguring the upper floor and creating an enclosed courtyard to link to the outdoors.

This ambitious project demonstrates how a clearly aligned brief and vision can transform a once-typical terrace into a light-filled, modern sanctuary that meets the needs of a young family.

A modern extension, featuring a pitched roof, is employed to introduce a spacious kitchen and dining area. The use of internal whitewashed brick walls, which extend into the courtyard, and a dramatic steel-framed window seamlessly blurs the line between indoor and outdoor spaces. A large skylight over the central stairwell tracks the path of the sun, animating surfaces throughout the day. A counterpoint to this is the front lounge room, which deliberately leans into the history of the home and is cloaked in a moody and atmospheric colour scheme to provide an escape from the brighter areas.

Materiality plays a crucial role in the design, with materials employed in their most authentic forms to celebrate their hard-wearing and honest qualities. The extension features white-painted recycled bricks alongside a polished concrete slab and timber-lined ceiling, striking a balance between robustness and warmth. The continuation of brickwork from inside to out beckons the eye to the brise soleil wall and brick fireplace, making the courtyard a focal point of the design. Timber features throughout, used as a contrasting element in the kitchen island bench against a natural stone benchtop. This layered and textured approach continues throughout, with bathrooms featuring white finger mosaics and light grey terrazzo floor tiles.

Materiality plays a crucial role in the design, with materials employed in their most authentic forms to celebrate their hard-wearing and honest qualities.

In reimagining Amess, Martino Leah Architects has crafted a home that not only meets the practical needs of its inhabitants but also provides a visually striking and emotionally resonant living environment. The success of the project lies in its ability to honour the terrace’s Victorian heritage while boldly embracing modern design principles, proving that, with vision and skill, even the most traditional of homes can be adapted to suit modern lifestyles without sacrificing their character.

Architecture and interior design by Martino Leah Architects. Build by Blueprint Construction Company. Engineering by Adams Consulting Engineers. Joinery by Kitchen Domain.