The design challenge set for Riofrio Carroll Architects by the owners of this house in the Melbourne suburb of Carlton was to combine two long narrow terraces, demolish additions from the 1950s and 1970s, and reuse the bricks to build a new extension.
Each terrace is five metres wide with a heritage facade in patterned brick with decorative plasterwork above. These two facades were retained as a part of the property’s history: “An important aspect of the architectural project was to maintain the layers of history that had made their mark over the decades on the property,” says Nelson Riofrio from Riofrio Carroll Architects.
Inside, the rooms in the old part of the house have also been restored, while at the back, the new extension is contemporary in design, with spotted gum timber, bluestone and recycled brickwork the predominant materials. The extension also divides the property into north and south zones, with the extension on the south side of the property overlooking a garden on the north side.
The architects have made the kitchen the centre of the home, prioritising space for food preparation, dining and entertaining. “They have a passion for cooking that few families do. Their interest is so great that they frequently try to decipher the ingredients of dishes in their favorite restaurants to later reinvent them at home,” says Riofrio.
Upstairs, the main bedroom and ensuite creates shade in the courtyard garden, while the 90 degree twist of the upper floor brings morning sun into the room through eastern windows. “To maintain the conceptual foundation of the design this twist has its central axis in the kitchen space,” explains Riofrio.
All the bricks from the buildings that were demolished were recycled and reused in the new construction. “The bricks were recovered, cleaned and organised by hand by the clients with the help of several friends,” says Riofrio. “The new construction highlights the recycled bricks as a show of respect to the house’s historical value.”
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