Caroline House by Kennedy Nolan

Built on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin nation

Clifton Hill, Victoria

Jury citation Full of eccentricities, Caroline House is a careful proposition designed to meet the specific needs of the client’s young family. Courtyards introduce sunlight into the new areas of the house and act as distinct outdoor rooms, setting a pattern of unfolding light that is extended in the palette and interior finishes. Exterior surfaces are continued internally to articulate the open structure of the room-making; this is particularly evident in the continuation of terrazzo floors from poolside to circulation, kitchen and living areas.

The deep green, circular pool forms a hinge in the plan, activating the dappled quality of the light that is reflected back into the new living and sleeping spaces. Externally, formal references tie into the original Edwardian fabric of the house without being sentimental or referential.

This project, somehow both familiar and remarkably new, has a unique appeal. The playful planning belies Kennedy Nolan’s rigorous intention. Spatial motifs are employed to evoke a sense of togetherness and the thoughtful design gathers the young family into a soft, seasonal light.

Architect Kennedy Nolan; Project team Patrick Kennedy, Rachel Nolan (design architects), Adriana Hanna (project architect), Dominic Wells (graduate of architecture),

Thurston Empson (student); Building surveyor Webb Consult; Landscape consultant Amanda Oliver Gardens; Builder Overend Constructions