02 A void opening up to
a skylight above the
second floor scatters
light across the rugged
surface of the brick wall.03 With its considered
materiality and finely
crafted island bench, the
kitchen is a masterful
study in detail.curved timber corners and openings reference the curvature of the
Victorian ornamentation in other parts of the building.
Opposite the kitchen, a void opens up to the second floor and a
narrow skylight that scatters light across the rugged surface of the
original brick wall. A volley of white pendant lights descends through
the void, becoming a sculptural feature. Alongside, a compact
laundry is concealed under the staircase. It’s encased in pristine
white panels that curve to end just short of the brick – a deliberate
gesture to emphasize the separation of old and new. A closer look at
the floor reveals the bluestone footing that acts as a skirting for the
newly lowered floor.
Materiality plays a critical role in the project’s success. Matt
describes it as “a process of stripping back, of revealing, and of
reimagining features of the original in a contemporary context.”
Matt removed the plaster from inside a decorative arch just inside
the entry to create a kind of frame for the clients’ art. Its exposed
red brick backing – all rugged edges and well-worn mortar – creates
a neat visual link to the brick walls of the extension. “In Victorian
architecture, everything is clothed,” Matt says. “To actually reveal
that ... well, the last time a human laid their eyes on this brick was
probably 150 years ago!”
When viewed from the outside, the project reveals the considered
approach the firm has used to meld the original structure and the
extension. While the new form is undoubtedly contemporary, its
scale and materiality takes cues from the piggyback structures
typically appended to Victorian terraces. The scale of the fenestration
also mirrors Victorian forms, but here they are finished with deep
steel hoods.
The lovely red bricks afford another moment of delight – they
wrap the exterior, scattering into a hit-and-miss section on the
upper level, before angling up to become a brick-clad roof. It’s a
neat manoeuvre, visible only from the rear but giving a cohesion
and simplicity to the built form. “We wanted to retain a lot of the
integrity of the original structure, to have quite a direct reading of
the old building, while bleeding it into these newer areas,” Matt says.
“We liked the idea that you could read the adaptations over time.”03