Northcote House

by Winwood McKenzie Architecture

Existing interior spaces have been transformed into a light filled functional home.

Northcote House by designers Winwood McKenzie Architects, has been re-designed as a light filled home, of cleans lines and simple luxury, for a modern Melbourne family.

With the added feature of a dramatic blue tiled terrazzo bathroom; which references the history of the post-war Australian cream brick home, each space throughout compliments the original house design, with a timeless interior.

The main design idea for the house, was to renovate each space into a contemporary light filled residence, and reorient the house to the light and the views, for the family. With a modest budget mixed with the already well-built quality of the original house, resulted in a design which maintained and refreshed the majority of the original spaces throughout the house.

Modifications and a new hardwood floor throughout, updated the character of the home, along with minor interventions throughout; including the relocation of the bathroom, a new laundry downstairs, allowing design of the house to open up to the full views and the natural light.

Separate dining and living spaces were combined to create a new flow through the rooms from the front of the house to the back of the house. Maintaining and refreshing the existing rooms was also an efficient way for designers to reduce the required materials for the build.

The original brick veneer house, with a double brick and concrete basement, provided the designers with an excellent thermal mass for the house. New insulation to the walls and ceilings, and double glazing helps to insulate the interior, creating a very sustainable home; energy wise. Ceiling fans were also installed in the bedroom to improve circulation and facilitate cross ventilation throughout.

Photography by Tom Blanchford.

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