CHAUCER RESIDENCE

AMBITIOUS YET HUMBLE

The clients’ vision was for a courtyard-style house that presented discreetly to the street and unfolded spectacularly at the rear, an ambitious concept given the compact size and heritage-protected façade. The finished home, however, has been resorted to its former grandeur, with a freshly tuckpointed façade and newly laid tessellated tiles. The contemporary extension is intentionally hidden from view, allowing the handsome original structure to sit humbly yet proudly amid the streetscape.

Constructed using pre-cast concrete panels

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Project Type: Suburban Home

Architect: Pohio Adams Architects

Photographer: Timothy Kaye

Interior with the long, narrow structure

FROM SMALL TO SIGNIFICANT

Inside, the front rooms retain their formal arrangement and detailing, with pressed-metal ceilings and restored cornices, architraves and skirting boards, while new pale oak floorboards and Venetian plaster offer a contemporary edge. In a small but significant move, the architects raised the heights of the door frames, introducing more fluidity without disrupting the original framework. The living space is flooded with light, which streams in through large expanses of glass blocks on the northern and southern sides providing a watery, dappled light.

Fisher and Paykel Integrated Refrigerator Freezer

A BEAUTIFUL WORKHORSE

Encased in timber, the kitchen seems to be carved from the forms that surround it. The layout revolves around the monolithic, six-meter-long travertine island. Housing several sleek Fisher & Paykel appliances, it is both a workhorse and striking architectural element. Stools at one end invite interaction, while an opening in the wall leads to a generously sized scullery. Overall, the design is functional and restrained, with appliances like the simple black induction cooktop that sits flush with the travertine, and black ovens with a low-key display that subtly recede until needed.