Dairy House

Demolition of this historical old dairy building circa 1894 was never a consideration at any point throughout the design process.

The 125-year old brick dairy, supporting the first floor, has not only been retained but carefully integrated into both the building’s exterior and interior.

With double brick walls on all sides absorbing sound and its location at the rear of the property, the old dairy was the perfect spot to locate the music studio.

One of Dan Gayfer Design’s clients is a professional musician who needed to both practice and teach music from home.

To further insulate the dairy from sound for this purpose, acoustic insulation was installed in the ceiling and the window into the kitchen area was acoustically glazed.

As both owners regularly worked from home, there also needed to be alternatives to the dairy that could provide this function.

To accommodate this lifestyle, or other family members finding their own place of solace, the concept of separating the everyday living spaces evolved – a departure from the open plan scenario that is often requested in a project brief.

The origin of this concept of separation essentially begins in the stair void.

This space distributing one to their preferred space of privacy including the living room, study nook, dining booth, music studio (dairy), and the upstairs retreat – all destinations in their own right.

From a configuration point of view, all components between the original front three rooms of the residence and the dairy at the rear were to be demolished.

Whilst the ground floor addition includes the stair void, bathroom, kitchen and meals areas, the first floor contains the main bedroom, ensuite/dressing room and retreat.

The ensuite and main bedroom are literally perched on top of the dairy house, this made possible by the implementation of complex structural support within the existing walls of the dairy.

Being highly exposed to the void, the retreat takes on mezzanine like characteristics, linking these rooms above the dairy with both the original residence and the new components.

The dairy provided an exciting departure point for the project’s material palette.

Its history, building typology, character, and materiality were considered in making selections.

Subsequently, materials selected are hardworking, cost effective and aesthetically suitable.

They not only reflect Melbourne’s iconic inner west, but also the personalities of the owners.

Key Products Used

External cladding – Cemintel ‘Barestone – external’
Flooring – 133x19mm Vic Ash
Kitchen benchtop – 20mm thick engineered stone in ‘Beton’ by Stone Ambassador
Splashback tile – 60x227mm ceramic tile ‘Piombo’ by Academy Tiles
Timber veneer – Crown plantation oak
Laminate – Formica ‘Ink – velour’
Pendant light – Lumil ‘No.10’ in custom colour
Carpet – Tretford ‘Damson’
Custom upholstery in Warwick ‘Mystere – Slate’ (dining booth) and Warwick ‘Mystere – Lavender’
Custom steel hanging bar
Custom steel balustrade

Project Details

Project Size – 135 m²
Site Area – 287 m²
Completion Date – 2019
Building Levels – 2

Project Tem

Design

Dan Gayfer Design

Dan Gayfer Design brings customised and considered innovation to residential building, interior and exterior design to enhance everyday life.

www.dangayfer.com

Construction

Topp Constructs

Topp Constructs is a family business with strong interest in Melbourne architecture, a passion for detail and pride in their craft.

www.toppconstructs.com.au

Cabinetmaking

Kohde

Kohde create bespoke kitchens and joinery. Their aim is to design considered works that create a sense of place for both the objects they contain and the people which experience them. They take inspiration from nature, with their palette incorporating elements which embody the landscape.

www.kohde.com.au

Photography

Dean Bradley

Dean Bradley is a commercial and architectural photographer based in Melbourne.

www.deanbradleyphotography.com