Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design were commissioned to design an extension and renovation of a Northcote Edwardian home.
Northcote is a desirable inner suburb of Melbourne, Australia.
It has a relaxed yet vibrant village vibe, where older Greek and Italian residents live alongside artists, musicians, and young families.
It’s textured.
Multi-layered.
And a hub for live music too.
A favourite venue is the Northcote Social Club.
Over the years, their band room has hosted local and international acts like The Pixies, Gotye, Augie March, The Kite String Tangle, Courtney Barnett, Vance Joy, Illy, and more.
But there’s more than just live music in Northcote.
Innovative eateries, bars, and shops line High Street, spilling over into neighbouring Thornbury.
Melanie Beynon’s clients were a young family of six.
And they had built this Northcote residence themselves.
Did a great job of it too.
Their unique craftsmanship, material choices, and dedication to detail created a generous and warm place.
The home has two zones – one for adults and the other for children – located at opposite ends of the house, with a central living space connecting the two areas.
Customised joinery and storage units are found throughout in unexpected locations, offering dual access to separated spaces.
Patricia Urquiola door handles and handmade paper pendants reflect the owner’s appreciation for crafted pieces, which will endure with the home and family as they grow.
Comfortable and pleasing as this home was already, the family needed more space … specifically, a new family living room.
And any new space had to have abundant natural light and protection from external noise intrusion.
Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design responded to the owner’s brief with the inclusion of a double height wall on the boundary and ceiling construction details that the owner and their trusted craftsmen constructed.
The newly-built family living room designed by Melanie Beynon is a voluminous and tactile space.
It features exposed Tasmanian Oak timber panels on the walls and pitched ceiling, complementing the reclaimed brick walls and handmade Anchor Ceramic tiles.
Large sliding doors expose the spacious new living room to natural light, leading to a raised deck for outdoor entertaining.
The tactile detailing extends to the exterior of the house and features a saw-tooth roofline, raw cedar shingles, and shiplap cladding on the walls.
These timber elements will silver in time, allowing the new extension to settle into its surroundings.
Project Details
Project size – 250 m2
Project budget – $600,000
Completion date – 2020
Building levels – 1
Project Details
Architecture
Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design
Based in Melbourne, Melanie Beynon’s award-winning namesake studio benefits from the director’s 20 plus years of experience in interior design and more than 10 years as an architect. During her extensive career Melanie has built up a wealth of connections and experience, producing an impressive catalogue of high-profile, high-end retail, residential and hospitality projects overseas and within Australia.
Melanie’s interest in the challenges of inner city living are reflected in a growing portfolio of residential designs that maximise space, flexibility and functionality, allowing families to comfortably coexist and thrive in central locations for many years.
In 2020, the studio won the prestigious Australian Interior Design award for the best workplace for their design of the purpose-built studio for fabric and textile wholesaler, Warwick.
Photography
Tom Blachford
Based in Melbourne, Australia Tom Blachford specialises in Interiors, Architecture, Aerial, and Fine Art photography.
Working with many of Australia’s most prominent and creative architects and designers, Tom prides himself on translating space, texture and design intent into strong sets of images.
His graphic approach and cinematic aesthetic also been utilised by brands and agencies seeking evocative images to elevate their campaigns with the use of his signature style. His advertising clients and collaborations include Asahi Beer, Nomad Hotels, Deakin University, MTV and Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Tom has worked for architectural and design clients including DKO, Techne Architects, FIGR, Elenberg Fraser, Wood Marsh, Jackson Clement & Burrows, GOLDEN, Ritz and Ghougassian, IF architecture, Foolscap, and Studio Esteta.
Photo Gallery
Click on a thumbnail image to enlarge.
Design © 2020 Melanie Beynon Architecture & Design. All Rights Reserved.| Images © 2020 Tom Blachford. All Rights Reserved.
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