Inner Connectedness – Caulfield House by Atelier 1:7

Delineating between eras, Caulfield House by Atelier 1:7 is a family home that showcases its art deco features through a contemporary lens. Originally built in 1933, the house has been rejuvenated with the introduction of light, neutral colour and material choices, and flowing living spaces.

Influenced by Spanish Mission-style architecture and Californian bungalows, with intricate heritage detailing throughout, the existing home expressed an abundance of period charm. However, the clients were seeking improved spatial qualities and larger living areas to accommodate their growing family. As such, Atelier 1:7 has renovated and extended the entertaining and living spaces to increase the home’s flow as well as create a sense of openness throughout.

Respecting the home’s heritage, Atelier 1:7 has instilled openness and flow through creating a floorplan that features a series of open yet interconnected spaces.

The existing layout allowed for minimal access to natural light and connections to the outdoors, thus restructuring the floor plan formed a large part of the brief. Now, the living spaces are located at the rear, where they enjoy a distinct flow from inside to outside, whilst the more private areas, such as the kids’ bedrooms, are located at the front of the home.  This proved crucial in not only allowing for an increased sense of openness and flow, but in offering more privacy to the teenaged children. Furthermore, skylights have been introduced near thresholds, highlighting the distinct qualities of both old and new elements and how they interact.

By celebrating the existing period details, the architects have honoured the home’s history whilst also responding to the client’s brief for a modern home. This is elegantly realised through the brickwork of the living room wall where Atelier 1:7 has reused and reinvigorated the material with white paint to embellish its natural texture through a contemporary touch. Additionally, the existing timber floors throughout have been polished and given a fresh lift to spark deeper flow through the home. The surfaces have been kept light in colour with floor to ceiling doors, square set ceilings and flush skirting boards, amplifying the home and providing a clear contrast to the textured, tactile and highly decorative material palette of the existing residence.

By responding to the client’s needs, Atelier 1:7 has mindfully celebrated the home’s existing period detailing while merging it with its contemporary additions.

In honouring the structure’s heritage identity, Atelier 1:7 has designed a home in which the owners can live connectedly. Due to its calm and collected palette of materials and colours, Caulfield House’s narrative tells the story of how heritage homes can undergo modernisation efforts to become relevant, balanced and nuanced.