Image Credit : Brendan Finn
Project Overview
Barry Street Residence is a major renovation and extension to an original grand old Victorian home. The client brief was to invigorate an existing building with a new modern direction to the new construction. The interior was to be carefully considered as integral to the architecture. Our intention was a marriage of the old and new rather than a jarring juxtaposition of past and present. Most rooms at the front of the property were left largely in their original form,while the new spaces to the rear are open sculptural spaces enlivened by an abundance of natural light . A sophisticated palette was selected in a range of textures and finishes such as stucco walls surrounding the kitchen joinery, fine timber detailing adjacent to Borghini marble both in the kitchen and main bathroom. Our aim was to carefully choreograph the materials in order to give a nod/reference at the old historic aspects of the original house by using fine crafted materials such as handmade tiles, wood turned legs on the vanities, textured splashback in the kitchen and (loose interpretation) refectory style island bench. This was intended to compliment without attempt to mimic.
Organisation
Team
nicolina caia
tania di lizio
Project Brief
This house oscillates between the old and the new - sitting comfortably in its original suburban milieu.There is an absence of the conventional domestic spatial paradigm in the new addition in that the central ribbon staircase and curtained curved wall serve to divide spaces for differing use. This project is imbued with varied experiences of scale, volume, light and shade borne through an integration of the architectural envelope and a highly finessed interior. The material and colour palette is a range of textured monochromatic finishes invigorated by punctuations of colour. We selected neutral white walls to offset the deep warmth and richness of the natural materials. The white was selected because it would also enhance and mould the sculptural qualities of the space that both designed lighting and natural lighting would create through depth and shadow. Colour was used to intensify particular areas such as the massive yellow curtain between the kitchen and the living room, the teal blue door leading from the old part of the house to the new, the sea green tiles of the basement powder room and teal blue thistle design carpet in the library. The interspersed touches of colour designed to keep the eye moving through the space , were to contrast and balance the overall serene qualities of the interior.
Project Need
The success of the spaces was in the detailing and use of materials,
subtly threaded through the building fabric and decorative elements of this house to provide a continuum between old and new, and from space to space. design elements were used in a contemporary manner, referencing the past in selection but speaking to the future in execution and delivery.Both warmth and freshness was injected into the interior through sophisticated selection and application of materials and a thoughtful and considered use of colour.
Design Challenge
How to combine the old with the new was the challenge.We began with the notion of grafting - grafting is the method which surgically connects a part of one plant to a part of another plant; the two grow to become a single plant.The transition was to be seamless.We were also aiming for a handmade aesthetic that would echo the fine craftsmanship of old by using exquisite/natural materials such as marble, texured tiles, stucco walls and carefull attention to detailing.
Sustainability
We are consistent in striving for sustainable solutions. This is evidenced in; double glazing of all new windows, Geberit toilet systems used throughout (recognised as one of the top 10 sustainable companies in the world), 100,000 litre underground water tank, solar heated pool, low energy lighting selections, external blinds to the west glass walls, Louvre windows in some rooms, retaining of original timber floors in old part of house and not forgetting the timeless, high quality of materials and workmanship.
Interior Design - Residential
This award celebrates innovative and creative building interiors with consideration given to space creation and planning, furnishings, finishes and aesthetic presentation. Consideration also given to space allocation, traffic flow, building services, lighting, fixtures, flooring, colours, furnishings and surface finishes.
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