Crafted Inversion – Palmette by SUM

Behind an existing heritage façade, Palmette emerges as a considered and connected dual-level home that embraces its connection with its quaint garden. SUM inverts the traditional planning arrangement, bringing the living areas to the upper floor to ensure a more generous and light-filled occupation, whilst the lower level sits recessively.

Set among similar Victorian-era homes, Palmette retains its existing façade to the front whilst reworking a two-story addition to the rear. In connecting the house to its site, enclosed garden spaces encourage the outdoor area to become an extension of the interior. Like many homes of a similar vintage, over the years they have been added to and extended, not necessarily with a cohesive approach in mind. With the residence retaining its historic frontage, the streetscape remains unchanged and forms part of the bigger narrative of Carlton as one of the first inner suburbs of Melbourne. In encouraging a more expanded feeling within the living areas, SUM elevates and flips the arrangement of functionality to retain the bedrooms and more recessive spaces on the lower level.

Opened to take advantage of natural light and the accompanied views out over the established tree canopies, the living area unfurls with the generosity of a contemporary family home.

Opened to take advantage of natural light and the accompanied views out over the established tree canopies, the living area unfurls with the generosity of a contemporary family home. Whilst the original materiality of the house consisted of brick, masonry and plaster elements, the addition features timber heavily as a warming and grounding element. In connecting to the prized garden space, timber framed openings and panels of fixed glass shape the view out. Inherited with low ceilings and an overall loss of grandeur from what was traditionally designed and build in the Victoria era, enhancing the verticality and sense of volume was integral to the new works.

Within its inner-city location, having quality outdoor space is invaluable. Despite being within close proximity to public parks, having private and enclosed spaces was key to the rear outlook. Using the back laneway as an extension of the structure, the home and garden open outwards, whilst the established grey Ash trees provide welcomed natural cooling to the western aspect. In the design of the residence, a more typical approach was taken that explores inverted planning and, instead of creating many smaller spaces, focuses on communal ones designed for connection.

Whilst the original materiality of the house consisted of brick, masonry and plaster elements, the addition features timber heavily as a warming and grounding element.

Through a sensitive approach that looks beyond the expected, Palmette is shaped by the unique experience created within. In crafting a warmly lit response, SUM have created a lasting new chapter to the existing narrative of the heritage home.