Houses Australia – August 2019

HOUSES 129 ALTERATION + ADDITION 105

Products

Roofing:LysaghtCustomOrb

inColorbond‘Surfmist’;Hanson

concrete;FoilboardGreeninsula-

tion;Foamularrigidinsulation

Externalwalls:PaintedFlemish

bondbrickworkusingPaddy’s

Bricksrecycledbricks

Internalwalls:Gyprockplaster-

board;customgroovedboard

Windows:DayviewWindow

Companysashlesssliding

windows;paintedsteelwindows

withshroudandcustomsteel

eavesbyTescherForge

Doors:Paintedsteeldoorswith

shroudbyTescherForge;Capral

doors;timberdoorsfromSteptoe’s

RenovationSupplies

Flooring:Tonguen Groove

engineeredtimberin‘Parquet’

and‘Grande’format;EcoOutdoor

Endicottcrazypaving

Lighting:AlliedMakerCourtII

sconce;Flos 265 walllamp

fromEuroluce;GreatDane

Cachépendant

Kitchen:Askocooktop;Smeg

rangehood;Corianbenchtopin

‘GlacierWhite’;blackZimbabwe

graniteislandbench;Corsiand

NicolaiCarraramarblesplashback;

2-pacjoinerybyTescherForge;

Mielefridge,dishwasherand

oven;Vintecwinecabinet;

AbeyGessitapware

Bathroom:Artedomushoned

Elbastonebenchtops;custom

steel-framedcabinetrybyTescher

ForgeinGeorgeFethersandCo

oakveneer;Signorinoterrazzotile;

InaxBiyusaitilefromArtedomus

Heatingandcooling:Heating

systemfromDPPHydronicHeating

Externalelements:EcoOutdoor

Endicottcrazypaving;Olde

EnglishTilesfloortiles;

Spiralworksstaircase

Furniture:Customdining

tableandperforatedsteelstairs

designedbyarchitectandfabri-

catedbyTescher Forge; Halcyon

Lake rugs

northandsouthorientations,theshiftinlight signals that you’ve stepped into
the livelier,moresocialpartofthehouse.

Althoughit isanopenlivingspace,TaylorKnightshasinterrogated

thebuildingsectiontodividethekitchen,diningandloungespacesintothree
distinctbutconnectedzones.Thisislargelyachievedthroughthevariednature

oftheceiling.Theflatceilingoverthediningareaispartlya functionofthe

roofterraceaboveit,butit alsoresultsinanintentionallyprotectedspacefor

dining.Thecompressivevolumehere also serves to contrast with the more
expansivevolumesflankingit.

Theloungeareasitsbelowa raisedandsteeplyrakedceiling–

a formgeneratedtocreatevolume,whileprotectingtheneighbour’sprivacy.
Thisspaceisslightlysunken,theloweredfloorenablingcityviews,which

arelessvisiblefromtheraiseddiningandkitchenspaces.A broadskylight

separatesthediningandloungeroofforms,exaggeratingtheceilingheight
intheloungeareawhilealsodelineatingthespaces. It offers views of the sky

and bringsdaylighttothecentreoftheplan.

Attheoppositeendoftheplan,theroofpopsupagain,thistime
asa scoopingconcreteroofformthatsitshighabovethekitchen.The

gestureisboldandconfident,andnotoneweexpecttoseeinprojectsofthis

scale.Theshutteredconcretesurfaceisparticularlyexpressiveinthiscontext,

withdaylightstreamingthroughtheskylightandanimatingitstexture.The
graphicprofileofthefolded-steelstairs,leadingtotheroofterraceabove,

createsfurthercontrastagainsttheconcretesurface.Theowners,asavid

entertainers,werekeentoseethekitchenastheheroofthehouse,andin
creatingthismonumentalmomentthearchitects have evoked the impression

of a homemuchgranderthanitssize.

Despiteit beinga small-footprinthousewithnobackyard,Fitzroy
Terracestilldeliversinoutdoorspace,providingtheownerswiththree

diverseoutdoorareas.Theexistingfrontbalconyadjoininga sittingroom,

offersprotectedengagementwiththestreet.Thefirst-floorterrace,givenits
proximitytothelivingspaceanditsprivatelocation,lendsitselftoeveryday

use.Theroofterraceofferscityviewsand a bit more space, suggesting useas

a moresocialspaceforentertaining.
Inparallelwiththeshiftsinvolume,areshiftsincolour.Taylor

Knightswascommissionedtoselectallfurnitureandartworkforthehouse.

Tofurtherdefinethedifferentzones,eachspaceiscolour-blocked.Mauve

for thelounge,greenforthediningarea,blueforthesittingroomandsoon.
Despitetheswingsandshiftsinvolumeandcolour,therearesome

commonthreadsthattietheprojecttogether.TheFlemishbondbrickwork

oftheexistingpartywallsareleftunlined,actingasa consistentlyreliable
backdrop.Glazingandwall-washinglightsareusedthroughouttoexpress

thetextureofthesewalls.Therefineddetailingandleveloffinisharealso

consistent.Finishesarelargelysmoothandpolished, and often make subtle
referencestotheoriginalVictorianhouse.

TheFitzroyTerracemayberelativelycompact,butit’snevertheless

boldandconfident.Throughdaringgestures,carefullyconsideredvolumes
anda potentuseofcolour,thisterracerenovationisa bitlikea TARDIS,

holding within it a wide scope of spaces and surprising grandeur.

2

Alteration+

addition

Melbourne,

Vic

Site 128 m²

Floor 145 m²

Design1 y

Build 1 y 1 m

Perm²

$6,000

Couple

2 2