Sensitive Yet Bold – Brunswick Residence by Lucy Bock Design Studio

Brunswick Residence combines bold contemporary gestures with an appreciation of history. Sensitively extending the life of the existing double-fronted Victorian terrace, Lucy Bock Design Studio draws on an unconventional approach, where personality and heritage come together to evoke emotion through sensory cues.

Located in the eclectic locale of the same name, the approach for Brunswick Residence very much mirrors the essence of the area in which it is immersed. A melting pot of culture, tonality and various layers of history, Brunswick is both vibrant and detail rich, proudly displaying the many contributing elements that made it the dynamic place it is. The home’s fusing of time and place and the new with the old allows both eras to be celebrated, with a key vein of colour and personality to tie the design together, calling forth emotion and encouraging conversation. Lucy Bock Design Studio utilises a bold and contrasting approach, clearly defining the differing time periods of the home, while also bringing of them together through materiality.

The home’s fusing of time and place and the new with the old allows both eras to be celebrated, with a key vein of colour and personality to tie the design together, calling forth emotion and encouraging conversation.

Built by Bercity Construction, Brunswick Residence is a double-fronted Victoria terrace home that has been renovated and extended to respond to the current custodians and the way in which they live. The result sees an overarchingly minimal approach to finishes and inserted elements, balancing a sense of calm against the pre-existing detail of the home. To match these crafted detail of the Victorian period, new elements playfully reflect a contemporary craft sensibility and are inserted to add both interest and inject personality. Many of the original heritage details have been painted white – blanketing the period element, while ensuring they suitably fit the contemporary veil of the home.

Colour is used expressively to activate a liveliness throughout while still allowing the historical references to be seen and celebrated at the same time. Colour is used to hint at transitions between old and new and, through texture and variety, conjure feelings of immersion. Sky blue is a primary feature colour throughout, interpreted through custom joinery, iconic furniture items and artwork, while lilac, grape, and a deep green are offset by the dark plum coloured brickwork around the fireplace and hearth. The earthiness of the warmer colours reinforces the lightness of the blue, balancing the tones while evoking a connection to the space. A palette of pale oak flooring further mutes the interiors, creating opportunities for artwork and other objects to be showcased through contrast.

The earthiness of the warmer colours reinforces the lightness of the blue, balancing the tones while evoking a connection to the space.

The tired existing bones of Brunswick Residence are refreshingly reinvigorated through boldness and contrast. Lucy Bock Design Studio has crafted a welcome balance between the historical and the contemporary, while layering in meaning and intrigue through an expertly curated eye.