A Modern-Day Victorian Cottage – Ellis House by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture
A quaint, Victorian-era weatherboard cottage in Melbourne’s east, Ellis House expands on ideas of family and openness. Alexandra Buchanan Architecture designs a home with sharp angles, expansive light and intentional voids, bringing the inherently limited structure into the modern day.
Nestled within Hawthorn, Ellis House sees the reinvigoration of a Victorian weatherboard cottage. Once appropriate for its era, the home’s limited storage and compartmentalised rooms were no longer fit for a modern-day family. In initial designs, Alexandra Buchanan Architecture took inspiration from the ideas of openness, light and connection, incorporating these elements throughout the residence’s new iteration. The clients, involved in every aspect of the design process, had a clear vision of how their home would fit their ideal lifestyle. The evolution from a spatially limited residence to one that could adapt to a growing family was achieved through built extensions and new storage solutions. The introduction of sunlight into the deeper areas of the structure was facilitated by new voids, visually opening the internal spaces of the home.
The motivation behind the renovation was to open the structure out to the garden and bring in as much light as possible. Contained to a narrow six-metre-wide block, Alexandra Buchanan Architecture was guided by the philosophy that the renovation needed to be compact and concise. In the process, Ellis House was opened through the creation of voids and the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows that introduced new access to natural light, alongside a linear light shaft to channel light through the length of the extension.
Flowing in from the entrance, light-drenched halls lead down towards the kitchen and living spaces, blending seamlessly into one another. Several small and simple architectural features were implemented to craft the extension, seeing extra storage woven throughout to allow for freedom from clutter and the creation of additional space. Built-in benches create an informal seating area around the kitchen, simultaneously providing storage. Upstairs sees the children’s play space and bedrooms; an intentional void creates a sense of separation whilst still feeling connected to the downstairs areas.
Throughout the project, intentional, sharp angular shapes and forms become a recurring motif, creating a cohesive architectural language.
Throughout the project, intentional, sharp angular shapes and forms become a recurring motif, creating a cohesive architectural language. Cues taken from the architectural styles of the surrounding area bring forth subtle layers of materials, tones and textures. Though the exterior is comprised of stripped back Silvertop Ash cladding, recycled brick and white-painted timber unify and complement the existing Victorian cottage.
The design of the extension provides a strong contrast to the old, creating a visually rich and modern home in the process. Building upon the relationship between home and family, Ellis House expands on the notion of contemporary living.
