Reigniting A Classic – Milkbar House by Kennedy Nolan

Milkbar House sees the transformation of an existing corner store and its accompanying residence into a considered contemporary home. Kennedy Nolan weaves together the details of the brief and the existing heritage of the building with a focus on natural connections.

Milkbar House is a dynamic home of contrasts with a shared synchronicity. Despite its high visibility as a corner allotment, the previous Milkbar store – with an adjoining five-bedroom Victorian era residence – is transformed to capture a modern sensibility as a warm family home. Ensuring a cohesive approach across both vernaculars was integral to the brief. With a focus on privacy, the enveloping white walls bind the store and the existing residence in a shared tonality. Kennedy Nolan draws from the idea of retreat and respect in recrafting the home to honour its past and its significance in the streetscape.

Disassociating from its streetscape façade, Milkbar House opens with delight and surprise.

Cultivating a connection to the outdoors, a secluded inner courtyard is carved into the overall mass and marked by an oculus opening. The careful integration of a natural feature into the interior forms an important layer in how the home functions, giving the residence an open and breathing centre, as well as increased access to natural light and ventilation. Inspired by the Medina-type structures of Middle Eastern cities, the walled exterior dramatically opposes the experience from within.

The newly directed home is formed from a series of overlapping materials and zones. The introduction of the open social gathering spaces to the original intimate rooms creates an interesting contrast within – celebrating both iterations of the building through their simultaneous existence. A shared cool palette flows between the interior and exterior. A mint-coloured tonality is featured in both the kitchen and the bathroom whilst a light timber subtly creates an indoor-outdoor connection through shared materiality.

Milkbar House is a dynamic home of contrasts with a shared synchronicity.

Disassociating from its streetscape façade, Milkbar House opens with delight and surprise. Through a complementary series of finishes and textures, Kennedy Nolan creates an idyllic destination for its owners – drawing from its past whilst introducing modern elements.