Present Form Breathing new life into a Tudor Revival home in Melbourne.
The work of a renowned local architect, this Melbourne home is brought into the now with a carefully considered update to ensure a bright future.
“IT WAS IMPORTANT TO RETAIN THE FEEL OF THE ORIGINAL ARCHITECT’S WORK, BUT ALSO CREATE SPACES THAT WERE MORE CONNECTED TO THE GARDEN.” David Neil, architect
The heritage of a home can sometimes be its greatest asset – but a storied past can go handin-hand with problems that need addressing. In the case of this Melbourne house, its owners sought the creature comforts and better access to natural light that simply weren’t designed into homes in the 1920s. The work of architect Robert Hamilton, this Tudor Revival house is one of many he designed during the 1920s and ’30s. It has a lovely country ambience, despite its location in an innercity cul-de-sac. “It was important that we retain the feel of Robert’s work, but also create spaces that were open and light filled, and more connected to the garden,” says David Neil, co-director of Neil Architecture.
Surrounded by lush grounds that have been expertly delivered by Eckersley Garden Architecture, the three-storey house features distinctive Tudor-style detailing – herringbone-patterned brickwork, timber strapping, a steeply pitched roof and elongated, elegant brick chimneys.
Most of the rooms were in almost-original condition, with the only significant changes being an open-plan kitchen, dining and family area that had been added to the rear of the property in the 1990s. “The kitchen had been positioned in what must surely have been the darkest part of the house,” says David. “You could also say that it lacked the type of architectural details Robert Hamilton was known for.”
Those details encompass a terracotta-tiled roof, a vaulted tiered-brick canopy over the front door, deep bay leadlight windows and exposed-brick fireplaces. The passages also have timber-lined walls and niches/doorways that create a level of separation not often found in homes today.
There’s a beautiful sense of privacy as well. “We can only see one neighbour when we pass through the gatehouse, even though we’re so close to the city,” says the owner, who shares this house with her husband and their three children. “We have one child currently living at home, and the other two come and go.”
This is the third project Neil Architecture has undertaken with these particular clients, so a sense of trust had already
been established. “David is exceptional with details and masterful when it comes to creating subtle shifts in light,” says the owner who, like David, was keen to ensure the original rooms remained fairly dark and moody. To achieve this effect, walls are painted a dark grey-blue colour. These spaces sit in striking contrast to the new kitchen and living areas that have been stitched onto the rear of the building.
The extension’s elongated form and angular ceiling take their cues from Robert Hamilton’s initial design. “We wanted to bring in the northern light, but also to create a form that felt nestled into the original home,” says David. Although the new kitchen, dining and family areas share a lighter palette – pale painted-oak cabinets and silver-ash marble island bench and splashbacks – the detail this space enjoys is something David feels Robert would have added, had he been practising today.
Large glass sliding doors, for example, include steel framing on the lower panels. Likewise, the Japanese-style, brick-style tiles used above the fireplace in the family room evoke the sense of craftsmanship popular in the 1920s. “I was keen to build on the way bricks were used in the past, but to give them a lighter, more contemporary feel,” says David.
Neil Architecture also trod lightly regarding the upgrading of the ensuites and the bedrooms on the first and second floors. There are two bedrooms in the attic, including a guestroom, and on the first floor are three bedrooms, including the main, all with ensuites. Silver Ash marble also features extensively in the bathrooms, accompanied by the fine crafted-oak joinery for which David is renowned. Interior designer Simône Serle was enlisted for the soft furnishings and feature lights.
Robert Hamilton was also known for creating intimate spaces that are not often found today. An example is a circular room that flows off the main living area and acts as a sun-drenched nook oriented to the north and framed by deep garden beds.
“There’s a continual play of light throughout this house,” says the owner, pointing out the floor-to-ceiling mirrors in the main entrance. “Some rooms borrow light while others reflect it,” says the owner, pointing out the floor-to-ceiling mirrors in the main entrance. “These days, family and friends gravitate to the island bench in the new kitchen when they arrive. The way we like to dine is fairly informal and the mood in that space is very relaxed.”
Neil Architecture, Richmond, Victoria; neilarchitecture.com.au. Eckersley Garden Architecture, Richmond, Victoria; e-ga.com.au.