Quiet Reprieve – Thomson House by C. Kairouz Architects

A reworking of an existing Edwardian-era home, Thomson House expands on the original footprint of to create a connected series of spaces that open to the multiple and newly introduced garden areas throughout. C. Kairouz Architects reorients movement and functionality internally to ensure the home is reflective of current times, with a base of white to further increase the perceived sense of scale.

While smaller than many of its Northcote neighbours, the timber weatherboard home connects to the area through its retention of historical clues and a shared appreciation and statement of the beginning of the suburb itself. Internally, Thomson House is given a new life through a re-planning of previously quite formal and separated spaces and through an additional layering of and reworking of finishes that line the spaces and add warmth. Wanting to maximise on the potential of the site, the original floorplate is increased, adding an additional level that sits concealed from the street, allowing a retention of the existing streetscape. C .Kairouz Architects extends the narrative of playfulness of the original into the new, reinterpreted.

As a future-focused base for its owners, consistent materiality becomes a blanketed background to everyday life.

Built by JCR Builders, Thomson House becomes light filled internally, while also emerging as an approachable addition to the street. The shared use of such a light palette both enhances the volumes, while increasing the presence of the home amongst others. As a future-focused base for its owners, consistent materiality becomes a blanketed background to everyday life. Intentionally avoiding trending gestures, the intent was for the home to feel engaging, textural and warm, while enhancing the existing features as much as possible. As a continuation of the lineage of the past of the home, the approach is one of consistency and restraint, centring on light and the introduction of natural elements as key.

Throughout, several landscaped spaces breakup the overall whole of the home and allow natural light and ventilation to enter and fill the spaces. The breaking down of the overall becomes a relief from the otherwise linear form and introduces moments of pause throughout. In any home, the connection outward is key to avoiding the feeling of being contained and by adding areas to open outward, the landscape adds significantly to the passivity and performance of the home as well. The introduction of terraces, skylights and a mesh area retreat area above the rear living space all contribute to a newly introduced feeling of openness throughout.

Thomson House is given a new life through a replanning of previously quite formal and separated planning, and through an additional layering of and reworking of finishes that line the spaces and add warmth.

While muted, Thomson House takes remaining relevant in years to come as its core goal, while enhancing the everyday experience of the spaces for its owners. C. Kairouz Architects crafts a uniquely quiet escape, and through the subtleties and containment of contrast, light enters and fills the home.