Elston House
A sense of custodianship guides Tecture’s restoration of this 144-year-old Melbourne heritage home.
When Ben Robertson, director of Tecture, met the family who would make Elston House their home, he knew the project would be driven by something deeper than the brief. The homeowners and architect found a natural rhythm in their shared respect for the dwelling and the possibilities held within its ageing yet promising bones. In Hawthorn East, heritage is part of the everyday streetscape. Victorian residences punctuate the neighbourhood, their presence quietly woven into the character of the suburb.
“Only minimal underpinning was required – a blessing for a home of its age.”
Perched on a corner site, the 402-square-metre, four-bedroom home brings restoration and renovation into balance. “The house was originally built in 1882 for AJ Smith, a merchant and bookseller,” Robertson notes. “Our client fell in love with the facade, calling it the home she had always dreamt of. The family was able to see the building’s beautiful character. It just needed the removal of excess layers, minimising the need for extension, retaining as much of the existing shell as possible.”
Defined by 3.5-metre ceilings, intricate cast-iron balustrades and a whitewashed exterior, the building stands as a marker in time, with past and present held in enduring accord. The renewed plan sits gently on the site. A former sunroom, added in the 19th century, was demolished to make way for a new living wing, while the original dining and sitting rooms were retained and joined by a dark oak study. The former kitchen became a butler’s pantry, and upstairs, an additional bathroom was incorporated into the floor plan to create a luxurious primary suite.
“Maybe 144 years from today, the city’s records will read that this home was built in 1882 and then lovingly restored in 2026 by Melbourne-based Tecture. That just makes my heart sing.”
“We were very fortunate that the structure had maintained its strength,” Robertson says. “Only minimal underpinning was required – a blessing for a home of its age. While the orientation doesn’t favour natural light, with few windows to the north, we rectified this with the new spatial addition.”
Inside, Tecture’s deft approach to minimalism unfolds. Heritage details are given clarity against a light palette, while soft Elba and Desert Silver stone from Signorino and light oak chevron flooring create a seamless visual field. Accents of champagne brass and black metal continue the dialogue between past and present.
For Robertson and his team, this is guardianship, not just architecture. “We spend so much time focusing on the details of the outcome that we often forget the beauty of the relationships we forge along the way. With Elston House, both the people and the space will always remain close to our hearts. I often think – maybe 144 years from today, the city’s records will read that this home was built in 1882 and then lovingly restored in 2026 by Melbourne-based Tecture. That just makes my heart sing.”
