Elevated Richness – Villa Glen by Lucy Clemenger Architects

Fusing the old and new together through a refreshing lens, Villa Glen’s purpose and connection are reawakened. Lucy Clemenger Architects draws from the existing character and generous proportions to propose a matched extension to elevate the everyday.

Amongst homes of similarly grand proportions, Villa Glen is located idyllically in Toorak on a generous allotment. Its position affords sweeping views of the surrounding suburb and the lush landscaping. As an extension and considered reimagining of the previous home, the new works draw from the original 1930s-era stylings and detail to propose areas that feel deliberately connected and free flowing. Responding to the clients’ love of entertaining, the home needed to facilitate large groups coming together and the ability to spill out into the landscaped outdoor areas. Key also to the brief was incorporating and allowing for the display of a growing collection of contemporary Australian and Asian art. Lucy Clemenger Architects carefully weaves the old in with the new, using colour and tone to activate the home.

ucy Clemenger Architects carefully weaves the old in with the new, using colour and tone to activate the home.

Already embedded with its own generous proportions, the new works aim to extend on from these core principles to allow better visual connections internally. Home to a growing family, the existing spaces needed revitalising however, and through a considered approach, the personalities of the owners were able to now be expressed throughout. Reworking the existing planning, where an ingrained formality created separation, an opening up allows for the home to feel more contemporary. Build by Nexus Construction, Villa Glen blends the old with the new, retaining the existing charm and adding new and unexpected elements in the process.

As an art consultant, the client wanted her pieces to feature heavily throughout. Culminating in the shared kitchen and living space to the rear, the home funnels out toward the landscaped outdoor rooms, bringing the family together and taking guests along a journey through the curated art collection along the way. A new sitting room then adjoins the previous dining area, further opening the space to allow for an embrace of the surrounds and natural elements outside. Accompanying the artworks, the use of brass accents, stone and timber all add textural depth to the spaces, further expressing the handmade.

Culminating in the shared kitchen and living space to the rear, the home funnels out toward the landscaped outdoor rooms, bringing the family together and taking guests along a journey through the curated art collection along the way.

Lucy Clemenger Architects respectfully expands the relevance of the existing residence, considering and integrating a revitalised interpretation of volume and scale. With the continuation of its legacy, Villa Glen’s storied past becomes an integral part of its present narrative.