CHASING THE LIGHT
A daring villa renovation impresses with its stylish and creative design, a long labour of love for its architect owner, writes LOUISE RICHARDSON
He’s known for his organic, innovative and sometimes quirky style; so much so that he was a finalist in the World Architecture Awards in 2012 for “Hut on Sleds” and recently his unique “Light Mine” was named House of the Year 2020, by Home magazine.
So, what-on-earth possessed award-winning architect Ken Crosson of Crosson Architects, to buy a rambling 1900s, cityfringe villa, with an ornate, traditional facade, 37 years ago?
“I have asked myself that question a number of times over the years, actually,” he laughs, explaining that the once-grand villa had been a student flat when he first saw it, with sagging ceilings, peeling paint, no insulation and a lean-to kitchen, plus an outhouse laundry.
“As a friend kindly commented, it was ‘the mother ship of cockroaches’,” he says.
Undeterred, Ken slowly brought the villa back to life, for his then-young family.
“It was the only home they ever knew,” he says. “A house of many memories.”
Early alterations included removing false ceilings, thereby reinstating the original high stud and turning the front bedroom into a lounge.
Essentially, though, the original part of the house has always remained largely the same and very much in character, he says.
The service areas gradually became part of the house, with a contemporary kitchen and bright modern bathrooms, but as far as Ken was concerned, that was just a stop-gap, and the
“Ken’s steel and glass wall literally opens up the entire back of the house creating a seamless connection with the garden. It’s a masterpiece in its simplicity.”
best was yet to come.
Three or four years ago, he decided to re-remodel the rear of the house — in very dramatic fashion. He says he appreciates the fact that villas can be very effectively “knocked around” and he’s dubbed the result of this recent work “The Lightbox”.
In the vast kitchen space, almost everything has been integrated behind tall, selfclosing doors, making the room sleek and streamlined and there’s also a handy scullery.
However, the most spectacular feature is inarguably the huge wall of glass French doors, which rotates to completely open up the back wall, as if on a turntable, for seamless flow between the house and the patio and garden outside.
Ken’s very pleased with the results of his work but admits it’s a big property for one person.
He says his next move won’t involve going far.
“This spot is so handy for absolutely everything, and I walk practically everywhere,” he says.
“But if I do need to use the motorway, it’s a quick drive to the on-ramp.
Ray White agent Chloe Wither says, “It is the best of both worlds, classic villa meets cutting-edge design.
“Ken’s steel and glass wall literally opens up the entire back of the house creating a seamless connection with the garden. It’s a masterpiece in its simplicity. The flexibility in the villa’s floor plan is also a reflection of Ken’s 37-year tenure, as the needs of his family have changed, so too has the way they have maximised living here.”
The property is also in-zone for excellent schools and its excavated basement conversion garage (with spacious adjacent rumpus or media room) is a real bonus in a suburb that was developed long before widespread use of the motor car. Sale: Set sale August 5
Contact: Scott Wither, Ray White, 021 225 5988; Chloe Wither, 021 672 191