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The sleek kitchen appliances from Fisher & Paykel are a beautiful match for this modern home in Melbourne
When Australian architectural firm Tecture was tasked to give this classical Melbourne abode a makeover, the studio adopted a carefully calibrated approach to bring its historical structure into the 21st century. Preserving the home’s heritage and original elements was paramount, and the architects strived to augment these with considered touches that reimagine its mid-century aesthetic in a contemporary manner.
The result is an elegant, effortless sanctuary that boasts beautifully updated spaces yet maintains respect for Australia’s modernist legacy, with a sophisticated kitchen at its heart; the project’s beautiful outcome is the hard work of a team led by director Ben Robertson and head of interior design Lauren Foy. “Because we weren’t adding a considerable amount [of alterations to the structure], it became less about the architecture and more about how striking, brilliant and liveable we could make the interior,” explains Robertson.
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The home already boasted clean lines and a favourable structure. So, one of Tecture’s first moves was to tweak its proportions by designing a small extension at the back of the house, which would also let more natural light enter. A Palladiana stone paved path connects to the double-height entrance of the home, which also features an original wood-and-steel staircase.
A curved wall leads one further into the house and towards the living room, which incorporates the family’s inherited pieces such as a reupholstered mid-century corner sofa with built-in joinery and a console with a record player. “We tried to retain as many of the original heritage features as possible,” says Foy.
