T

he streets of Malvern in Melbourne’s inner south-east are
filledwithgenerouslyproportionedfreestandingcottages
like the original house for this project. With little chance
of overcapitalizing, one by one these dwellings are extended
and adapted. Often the new work is two floors high, which can
overwhelmorovershadowbackyardsandbelessneighbourlyto
adjoiningproperties.Withabrieffromafamilyoffourtoaltertheir
housetomatchalifestylelivedasmuchoutdoorsasin,RobKennon
Architectsoptedforastrategyofbuildinglowandwide,tominimize
theimpactonthisandborderingsitesandmaximizeconnectionsto
the established garden.
TheprogrammaticbriefforMalvernHouseaskedforthe
additionofakitchen,livinganddiningarea,amainbedroom(with
an ensuite) and a laundry in the existing Victorian weatherboard
cottage. The architects proposed removing an existing lean-to
kitchen and living area from the east-facing rear of the house and
designed the new work to run boundary to boundary across the site.
With an existing pool occupying one corner of the yard, founding
director Rob Kennon notes that there were really only two possible
diagramsforthework:anorth-facingseriesofroomsrunningalong
thesidefence,oraboundary-to-boundaryvolume.Withthefirst
option orientating all the rooms toward a featureless, rendered, two-
storeyneighbour,thesecondoptionwonout.Whilethismovewas
initiallyastretchfortheclients,theyhavecometolovethewaythe
newbuildinghastransformedtheirgardenintoalargecourt,and
thesmallinconveniences(likecarryinggardeninggearthroughthe
house) pale in comparison to the increased connection to the garden
andunexpectedlyimprovedsitesecurity.Withonesectionofthe
newplanstretchingalittlefurtherintothegarden,theclientsare
still able to bask in sunshine from the north.
The second major move for the work happens in section. The
livingroomandmainbedroomsitfourstepsdownfromtheexisting
cottage,suchthatthefloorleveloftheroomsisalmostflushwiththe
garden.Thistucksthenewworkwellbelowtheridgeoftheexisting
cottage while still enabling very generous floor-to-ceiling heights.
Theworkthendipsdownanotherthreestepsintothekitchenand
diningroom,droppingthefloorlevelbelowthegroundlineofthe
gardenandestablishingadifferentviewandrelationshipwiththe
outdoorspace.Thesesplitsinlevelworkincombinationwithtall
ceilings to allow a relatively small floor plan to seem expansive.
An exceptional aspect of the design is the way that the detailing,
colour and expression of material underscore each of the broader

design strategies. The connection between outside and inside is

emphasized by rigorous detailing, such that any one plane of material

seems to run seamlessly into another across a threshold. The honed

concrete floor of the living room changes to bluestone paving on

the terrace; the recessed frames of the living room sliders allow the

paintedbrickwalltoextendfromthelivingroomintothegarden;

thewideblacksillofthediningroomtransformsintotheearth

of a planter bed. The split level within the extension is reinforced

byashiftfromwhitewallsandnaturalveneersinthelivingspace

toablackceiling,black-stainedjoineryanddarkfittingsonthe

kitchen and dining room level, thereby amplifying the architect’s

ideaofthispartofthehousebeing“heavier,”embeddedintheearth.

And particular materials have been carefully selected for emphasis

orvisualdelight.Recycledbrickdefineseachofthemajorwalls

within the extension. The irregular texture of the white-painted

brickreflectsthemovementofthelightthroughoutthedayand

createstheinterestingillusionthatthesurfaceisanagedpartof

theoriginalcottage.Acrisplydetailed,seeminglysolidblockof

black Zimbabwean granite anchors the kitchen and dining area and

works in stark contrast to the cooking alcove, which is fully lined in

reflective stainless steel.

Thisextensionisdeceptivelysimple.Inplanitreadsasamodest

seriesofroomsattherearofanexistingcottage,butinreality,itis

averysubtlycraftedseriesofvolumesthatoffersunexpectedways

todwellinwhatisarelativelystandardinner-citysuburbanblock.

When sitting within the sunken dining area, with its dark walls and

ceiling,thegreensofthegardenappeargreenerbycontrastandthe

way that the room is buried in the ground offers a unique perspective

onthesite,feelingcosyorintimate.Theclientstalkabouthowthey

stargaze from their new bedroom, with its tall ceiling and floor-to-

ceiling glass. Surprisingly elegant sliding flyscreens allow a large area

ofthelivingroomglazingtobeleftopenthroughoutthedayand

night. The brickwork is consistently enjoyable as a textured surface

and plays off the smooth precision of the joinery. The clients say

they“wouldn’tchangeasinglething”andIcanunderstandwhy.

Sections 1:400^0 3 m