Doncaster House

by Manna Made

From the Architect

The design brief for their architect was slightly different for each client. Brad (husband) wanted to create a home with ‘design reserve’ that will not date, something those with a keen eye for form and function would appreciate because they know what they are looking at. Jenny (wife) wanted a complete overhaul… A full redesign ensuring the home was a pleasure to come home to/live in. It needed to be easy to look after and maintain. All areas function effortlessly and overall to reflect “quiet glamour”.

The Kitchen and neighbouring Family room, where you can sit near the large west facing window which offers great views or look back towards the backyard are the client’s favourite areas. From a build perspec-tive, we’d have to agree. A lot of thought, planning and preparation went into ensuring the success of these zones.

Significant engineering associated with installing the steel beams at the back of the house designed to take the significant load of a suspended concrete slab above. From a process perspective, the build carried us through a very chilly Melbourne winter and being all concrete and on the top of a rise, it was a very very cold site. Other challenges included plenty of unforeseen construction complications due to existing ele-ments not being as favourable as we first hoped i.e. crumbling brickwork.

The home was Built in 1974 by Melbourne-based architects Joshua & Mary Pila. They were responsible for a number of similar and well known mid-century modern homes in the Melbourne area. The home is double brick with suspended concrete slab floors.  The house remained untouched and impeccably kept until this renovation.

From a build perspective, we’re extremely proud of the level of detail achieved, which we worked tireless with the client to ensure was perfect. The client describes the final result as “Excellent. Pays homage to original 1970’s design, but not beholden to it.”