Erskine Street

Location: North Melbourne

Status: Completed in 2010

Internal alteration/renovation to single residence.

A single-storey, detached Victorian house in an inner city suburb for a young, creative family, KCA’s intervention is sympathetic to the heritage whilst opening up the interior for more spacious and functional and brighter living areas, with a greater connection to the lush backyard oasis. A simple colour and material palette of white and light timber accents brightens every room, accentuating the existing high ceilings and allows the family’s treasured pieces to enrich each space.

A discrete entrance from the master bedroom built-in robe hides a generous, skylight-lit ensuite; a clever use of space in an existing generously proportioned room and introducing modern convenience into an old home.

At the back of the house is an open plan living, dining and kitchen in an L-shape configuration, oriented around the deck and native garden backyard beyond. A large skylight was also placed in the living room, illuminating a beautiful spotted gum clad wall with a fireplace and bringing a feeling of warmth and comfort to the centre of the home. In significant contrast to the introspective and compartmentalised nature of the house before the renovation, a wall between the dining and living room was demolished and generous timber framed windows and sliding doors in the dining room and kitchen frame the lush garden views and create an intimate connection between the outside and inside.

Photo credit: Wei Wei