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ntheearlystagesofthisproject,architectMattGibsonandhis

team took to the streets. Their mission? To catalogue the design

details,constructiontechniquesandurbanfabricofNorth

Melbourne’s eclectic housing stock. The resulting architectural

inventory covered 150-odd houses and offered a wealth of ideas for

the team’s design concept – a thoughtfully resolved renovation of a

grand Victorian terrace.

The house’s rich history presented both challenge and opportunity.

Builtinthe1870sforwineandspiritmerchantJohnDaly,the

houseisafineexampleofboom-erawealthanditsinfluenceon

architectural style. It has an A1 heritage classification – the highest

designation–soMattworkedwithheritagearchitectRogerBeeston

to ensure the renovation respected the house’s past.

The mannered formal rooms at the front of the house remained

in good condition and required only a minor polish to restore

their grandeur. At ground level, the street-facing drawing room

hasbeenupdatedwithdeep-huedbluewalls,accentuatingthefine

ornamentationofitscornicesandceiling.Alongside,apowderroom

doublesasanensuitefortheguestbedroom.Upabove,asecond

bedroomwassplitinhalf,nowservingasanensuiteandwalk-in

robeforthemainbedroomatthefront.

Thetransitionfromoldtonewisamomentofdelight–from

the formal enclosure of the original structure, three steps lead into

thetimber-linedpavilionattherear,light-filledandbackedby a

lushpatchoflawn.“TheseoldVictorianbuildings–muchasthey

weregreatincitieslikeLondon–inAustralianconditions,they

are compartmentalized and don’t have great access to exteriors. We

wantedtokeeptheVictorianelementsatthefrontandupthetop,

buttoopenoutthelowerleveltothegarden,”Mattexplains.

Withneighboursonallsides,navigatingoverlookingand

overshadowing required an inventive approach. There is a masterful

choreographyatplay–thenewvolumestepsin,ducksdown,

stretchesoutandlandsjustso,toensuretheappropriatesetbacks

whilestillmakingthemostofthenarrowsite.Abankofsliding

panelsopensupaninterstitialdeckedcourtyardonthesouthern

boundary,whiletheL-shapedslidersattherearextendthespaceinto

thegardenbeyond.Upstairs,threenewbedroomsandabathroom

accommodatetheyoungermembersofthefamily.

Thekitchen,backedbyalongjoinerywall,runsalongthe

southern edge of the ground floor. Its centrepiece is an angular

islandbenchthatexemplifiestheteam’smasteryofdetail.Topped

withCalacattamarble,itcantileversoverthethreestepsthatdrop

downtothelivingzone,evokingtheideaofmovementthrough

space.Ashadowlinewrapsaroundunderthecountertop,and

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“ While the new form is undoubtedly

contemporary, its scale and

materiality takes cues from the

piggyback structures typically

appended to Victorian terraces.”