Skip To Main Content
Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

A Product of

A New Lease on Life
HomesAndrew McDonald

A New Lease on Life

Australia

The challenge of re-birthing a poorly renovated and compromised 1930’s dwelling resulted in a contemporary and charming design; the Richmond Hill house.


Richmond Hill house offers commanding views of Melbourne’s skyline from its contemporary meets heritage aesthetic. The design required careful consideration from the architectural team at Rachcoff Vella; despite the orientation of the site offering great potential, the challenge was to unpeel the poorly built additions the house had seen over the years to allow for a clean break from the existing heritage house.

After peeling back the rear mid-late century additions, what remained was quite an intact post war brick dwelling. It was clear going forward that any new works would need to be well articulated in form, so as to not compete with or dominate the original dwelling.

The natural fall in the site let the additions to be split-level, with the new brickwork standing in contrast against the dark timber cladding, creating a sense of light and shade.

_MG_9046

The brick façade pattern lets morning and afternoon sun to filter into the living room, whilst also acting as an effective privacy screen. With naturally gorgeous views available, the windows were carefully crafted to avoid overlooking the neighbours.

Touches to the existing building include a new front porch and timber slat fence, which allows for cohesion between the new and old works.

The calm and simple interior allows the occupants and the busy urban environment to take centre stage. The hero of the design is a blonde Scandinavian timber flooring system that wraps itself into the joinery, stairs and walls. This is contrasted against the black box in the middle of the open plan first floor, essentially a pod to conceal services and offer a light filled stairway to the roof top terrace. This black and blonde theme is carried throughout the house, inside and out, which stands together with the old and new theme of the space.

Rachcoff Vella
rachcoffvella.com.au

Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

_MG_9101
_MG_9149
_MG_9170
_MG_9221
_MG_9277
_MG_9446
_MG_9601
MG_0067L

 


About the Author

Andrew McDonald

Tags

Home ArchitectureHouse ArchitectureResidential Architecture


Related Projects
Issue 59 - The Life Outside Issue

Issue 59

The Life Outside Issue

Introducing the Life Outside issue of Habitus magazine. With life increasingly being absorbed into a digital space, there is never a more important moment to hold something tangible. In this context, the power of nature to have a physiological impact on our sense of wellbeing has never been more important. So how can we cultivate the benefits of the our natural environment in the most intimate of places – our homes? This was the question that helped to bring this issue of Habitus to life.

Order Issue