A Series of Decisive Insertions – South Yarra House by Robert Simeoni Architects

Lightly sheathed between its original 1930s art-deco bones, South Yarra House sees the unification and regeneration of two separate apartments into one cohesive home. Robert Simeoni Architects combines considered restraint and a celebration of heritage in the approach and development of decisive insertions.

In its quiet and unassuming setting, South Yarra House is idyllically located. Set amongst other significant art deco-era houses and apartment buildings, the original 1930s structure sits neatly and comfortably amongst its context. Although diversified over the years through modern iterations, the area retains a classic and nostalgic charm of the bygone era, intertwined with the natural evolution of inner-urban neighbourhoods. Inherited as a segmented building of two separate yet identically planned apartments, the unification process ensured the building reads as one cohesive and connected home. With an understanding of context, Robert Simeoni Architects has highlighted and celebrated the historical elements while inserting additions that allow transparency between old and new.

Home to an architecture and design writer and their partner, an expression of the couple’s combined strong aesthetic was paramount, as was the facilitation of their unique and diverse furniture and art collections. Capitalising on the home’s quiet and removed feel, interventions were inserted within the existing structure to minimise both spatial and physical disruption. This approach allowed for both budget control and to retain the key structural elements and integrity of the original build. Wherever feasible, the preceding materiality and fabric was retained and expressed, and the new iterations are inserted as less permanent installation items, combining amenity and sculpture within the various spaces.

Robert Simeoni Architects combines considered restraint and a celebration of heritage in the approach and development of decisive insertions.

Employing custom fixtures and fittings by Suzi Stanford, Robert Simeoni Architects reimagined the internals and created a double -story addition to the rear as an encasing and fortifying retreat form. The addition houses the kitchen, dining and laundry and acts as a transitionary space between the inside and out, and the old and the new. The space is flanked by a full-height steel serrated wall that is composed of clear glass at the top and fluted glass at the bottom. The upper allows floods of natural light inward, and the lower creates privacy while still offering signs of movement from either side and patterned light permeation. A new steel staircase connects the levels vertically and sits within the existing walls of the previous bathrooms. The bathrooms are then reimagined referencing traditional 1930s cues such as in-situ tiled basins and free-flowing shower screens.

Set amongst other significant art deco- era houses and apartment buildings, the original 1930s structure sits neatly and comfortably amongst its context.

South Yarra House beautifully captures the home’s past, while inserting bold additions that balance the original intricacies. Robert Simeoni Architects has unified its disparate parts and proposed a home of daring vision and formal expression that connects to the story of its owners with crystal clarity.

Robert Simeoni Architects has unified its disparate parts and proposed a home of daring vision and formal expression that connects to the story of its owners with crystal clarity.