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Mygunyah by the Circus by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design
Mygunyah by the Circus by Matt Gibson Architecture + Design is a contemporary architectural intervention that combines three pavilions, subtly connected to an existing Victorian home in Melbourne.
Located in the historic Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy North, directly opposite the iconic Edinburgh Gardens, the design of Mygunyah by the Circus navigates the restraints of a heritage overlay while remaining respectful to the existing architectural context. The client’s brief to Matt Gibson Architecture + Design was to increase the footprint of the home, while simultaneously integrating the interiors with the natural environment and creating a family home that subtly blurs the established boundaries between indoor and outdoor living.
“The conceptual approach involved the provision of three distinct pavilions: the original building, a second contemporary building in cream brick and a new pavilion to the west side of the site, which involved a north-facing family room and a series of individual gardens,” Matt Gibson says.
“One of the great characteristics of the three separate pavilions and the soft connection between each of them is that you achieve great light through the middle of the building,” he adds. “This light then plays off the textures of the external and internal materials, adding extra detail and idiosyncrasy that truly make this building what it is.”
Drawing from a contemporary interpretation of Arts and Crafts architecture, the forms are as visually striking as they are sympathetic to the existing building and heritage context of the locality. To assist in the creation of the new forms, Matt and his team worked closely with long-time collaborator Brickworks. “We used a carbon-neutral Daniel Robertson brick called Buff Blend to co-ordinate with the existing building,” explains Matt. “We loved the contemporary feel of the brick and its textural beauty, as well as its colour and tone, which matched the existing building perfectly.
“We have worked with Brickworks on a number of projects over the years and they are always fantastic at providing that extra degree of acumen and detail. They always assist in providing something that would perhaps be considered beyond the conventional.”
The seamless blend of new intervention with a contemporary interpretation of heritage design can be observed throughout the entirety of the home. To achieve this, Matt once again worked closely with Brickworks. “We employed a cavity brick system in the family room, which has a double-brick external, as well as internal, wall; externally, it’s the La Paloma Romero brick and internally we have white-painted brick,” he explains.
The true beauty of the materiality found within Mygunyah by the Circus is the subtle way it blends seamlessly with the green spaces and the traditional elements of the site, adopting a subservient role within the overall architectural context. This allows elements such as the visually captivating garden hedge aperture to shine through, highlighting the considered design choices for which Matt Gibson and his team are renowned.
Architecture by Matt Gibson Architecture and Design.
