The rear of the existing 1920s weatherboard home was demolished to make way for a new light filled living/dining/kitchen area.
A new master bedroom, ensuite and laundry were provided for within the extension.
The house was also re-roofed and painted and the front facade re-designed.
The existing garage was transformed into a rumpus / workshop area.
Boston Villa is an original, late 19th century house and stables in Fitzroy. The house was built circa 1863 by William Candy, a stonemason and the first owner of the home.
In 2009 the current owners engaged architect and friend Emilio Fuscaldo of Nest Architects to update and extend the house, which had fallen in to disrepair and was occupied by squatters. Unfortunately most of the house burnt down during the sketch design phase, so the original plan of simply renovating the existing house dramatically changed to pretty much a total rebuild.
The original footprint of the home was expanded, with the two front rooms retained, a children’s wing replacing the old stables out the back, a guest bedroom/study upstairs and new cellar below ground.
The new second story acts as a thermal chimney and allows light into the centre of the house. Although it’s not open plan, there are vistas which link the various living spaces. A significant change was to move the front door to the side of the house, landing visitors straight into the centre of the home, at the junction between the ‘Victorian’ and ‘Modern’ halves.
Awards
RAIA (VIC), Alterations & Additions 2011
This house occupies the site of a former cheese factory in the inner city suburb of North Melbourne. The home is surrounded by an eclectic mix of buildings: to the east is a three storey 1950s cream brick apartment block; to the west a two storey Victorian terrace house; the eastern boundary is a mixture of brick warehouse buildings, and opposite is a 1860s bluestone church. It is fitting, therefore, that the mixture of domestic and industrial design engages with all of its neighbours.
Awards
RAIA National, Residential Architecture, Commendation 2012
RAIA (VIC), Harold Desbrowe-Annear Award for Residential Architecture 2012
