Crafted Approach – Hawthorn Project by Rosanna Ceravolo

Opting to retain and improve the existing form, Hawthorn Project sees the careful recrafting of the treasured Victorian-era cottage home’s interior. Rosanna Ceravolo proposes a highly detailed sculpting that embeds a contemporary rigour among the existing heritage form’s detailing.

In renovating heritage residences, a desire to preserve features such as high ceilings and ornate cornicing commonly takes precedence. With Victorian cottages, the rear lean-to structure is often replaced with a volume of higher ceiling proportions – exemplifying the contemporary way of living. Hawthorn Project adopts a different approach, retaining the layered elements of its history as a capture of its previous chapters and occupiers. Within the home’s existing shell, Rosanna Ceravolo reconfigures the spaces to optimise natural light and adds another level of depth to the resulting home.

Within the home’s existing shell, Rosanna Ceravolo reconfigures the spaces to optimise natural light and adds another level of depth to the resulting home.

To combat the reduced ceiling height of the rear space, a lighter approach to materiality allows an atmosphere of openness. In the shared kitchen, dining and living space, the central island sits as a monolithic gesture to ground the space, with an equally interesting ceiling vault detailed above. Allowing the ground floor to remain as a series of clean lines with an uninterrupted flow of movement, the unique ceiling detail injects a handmade touch, reflecting a continuation of the original crafted nature of the home.

Opening to the nearby park, creating and enhancing an outdoor connection was key to the new works. Through glazing and the clearing of obstructive internal walls, the new rear room acts as a transition between the interior and exterior spaces. With the original two front rooms retained in place, their formality and lofted heights become a celebration of the original Victorian-era heritage of the home, retaining a structured sensibility. An overall light palette carried across the old and new spaces then ensures cohesion throughout and enhances the perception of scale.

To combat the reduced ceiling height of the rear space, a lighter approach to materiality allows an atmosphere of openness.

Despite its quaint footprint, Hawthorn Project generously expands on the previous home through an interplay of light and materiality. Rosanna Ceravolo overlays a light airiness throughout, enhancing flow of movement and a creating a resulting home of cohesion.