Little of suburban housing from Melbourne’s 70’s has achieved streetscape heritage status. While the original house is not a recognised piece of architecture, Mansard House is a quintessential example from its time and deserving of retention for its time-marking contribution to a richly textured city that values its past.
The clients intend to age at home and wished for the house to throw its arms out to extended family. Untangling the order of rooms and access to promote this desire required extensive internal remodelling. Internal spaces were reconfigured to transform the existing inward-looking plan: walls are strategically incised or removed to provide a sense of openness and connection, within the building and to the landscape beyond.
The interior finishes palette is a richly coloured and texturally intense interpretation of the original 70’s interior. Materials were selected for their raw and inherent beauty and the moody palette uses texture and grain that sits well next to the original brown brick.
Externally, wall alignments and their relationship to the mansard line are unchanged. A new balustrade band transforms the once heavy hat of the mansard which gains elegance and a floating quality that re-defines the way the mass sits in the landscape.
Furniture: Grazia & Co, Entry and Bedroom – Reeno Bench, Kitchen – Diiva Swivel Stools, Lounge – Agent 86 Sofa, Jardan, Living – Marlo Sofa, Lounge – Lola Armchairs, Great Dane, Dining Chairs – Kai 42 Chair, Muuto – supplied by Living Edge, Study – Fibre Armchair. Lighting: Internal throughout, Artefact T Mini Surface, supplied by Artefact. Colour/Finish: Dulux medium bronze. Dining table pendant light by Laal, supplied by Laal. Short arch cluster with small cones. Colour/Finish: Dulux burnished copper. Living area and lounge area wall light by Laal, supplied by Laal. Conehome Arch. Colour/Finish: Dulux burnished copper. Wall light throughout, Artemide Dioscuri 140 in White, supplied by Artemide. Wall light external, Rich Brilliant Willing IP65, supplied by Koda. Finishes: Ensuite, Terrazzo tiles by Cerdomus, supplied by Cerdomus. Colour/Finish: TEZ2372 Murano Honed. Bathroom, Fibonacci stone Terrazzo tiles, supplied by Fibonacci. Colour/Finish: The Sunbaker. Kitchen, stone bench, splashbacks and surrounds, Guatemala green marble, supplied by Marella Granite and Marble. Main bedroom and WIR, Guest bedroom 01 and 02, Guest Lounge, Engineered European oak floorboards, supplied by Tounge and Groove. Colour/Finish: Hekke. Bluestone flooring throughout other living spaces supplied by Sai Stone. Fittings & Fixtures: Tapware throughout by Brodware, supplied by Mary Noall, Ensuite, back to wall bath by Kaldewei, Meisterstruck Centro Duo in white, supplied by Bathe, Kitchen sink, Franke Kubus KBG 110-74 in black onyx, supplied by E&S Trading
Photography: Rory Gardiner