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Century-old cottage transformed with light & greenery

By Amy Collins-Walker •

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Home to a young family of three, this 100-year-old worker’s cottage in Melbourne’s Yarraville was renovated recently in a process that saw many of the original materials included in the stylish result.

Kitchen
The open plan kitchen, dining and lounge room enjoy a feature wall made from red bricks found during the initial demolition process

“The owners wanted to reuse original materials where appropriate and took a very hands-on approach, performing much of the demolition themselves! They wanted to discover what was there and they didn’t want anything of value to go into landfill,” says architect James Goodlet of Alter Eco Design.

Dining
Dining area

The renovation entailed restoring the front portion of the home and adding a small addition to the rear making it a much more functional abode where natural light is now in abundance. “The home is a good example of how comfortable and liveable a tight and compact space can be,” says James.

Bathroom
Bathroom

Gorgeous details abound and the home now sports paving made from the home’s original bluestone foundations and a feature wall constructed from the original red bricks found in the demolition. “We employed a savvy design approach that enables passive heating and cooling inside. Not only does the red brick wall create a pleasing aesthetic, it performs as a thermal mass for the building,” says James of the wall that extends from inside to the outdoor courtyard.

Lounge & kitchen

Aside from the eco-credentials of the brick wall, the home also boasts a green roof for insulation complete with eco-friendly native plants. “When it came to the great outdoors, water wise and native plants were used in the garden beds and all of of this was topped off with an insulating green roof,” says James.

The home's green roof provides insulation
The home’s green roof provides insulation

The home’s roof garden can be seen from the original hallway at the front of the home, due to a cleverly placed window. “The hallway is now north facing onto the roof garden which allows natural light into an otherwise dark space,” says James.

Hallway

Overall, the project ticked many a green box and it’s something that James is proud of, given sustainability is integral to his design ethos. “This industrious approach to building and design reduces the associated wasted energy (often synonymous with demolishing the old and building something shiny, modern and new), all the while successfully preserving and celebrating the charm that comes with a house of this era.”

Front elevation
The front of the home

Photography: Nikole Ramsay | Styling: Emma O’Meara

For more | Another Victorian cottage transformation

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April 5, 2018

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📸 @jonathantabensky
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Amy Collins-Walker

About Amy Collins-Walker

Amy is our regular feature writer, an experienced journalist and interior stylist living in Perth, Western Australia. Find out more about her styling work at http://www.amycollinswalker.com/

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Debra says

    April 8, 2018 at 8:18 pm

    Very beautiful clever designer/owners. I am impressed it’s magical

  2. Della says

    April 9, 2018 at 2:16 am

    Wow, what a brilliant renovation! I think I remember that house being listed and I would never have pictured such a wonderful future for it. Love the light filled hallway and clever use of side windows.

  3. Vesna says

    April 9, 2018 at 7:44 am

    Do you have any details on the concrete flooring using in the addition? Is it a concrete resin/veneer or just lightly polished concrete slab? Thanks

  4. Anthony says

    October 7, 2019 at 2:50 pm

    Hi there

    Love the house. Building a similar style out in Trentham next year for family. Any chance of obtaining this house address and Il swing by to take a very quick look at from the street. It’s inspiring!!!!

    • Jen BishopJen Bishop says

      October 7, 2019 at 3:26 pm

      Hi Anthony. I’d suggest contacting he architect, linked to in the post, and asking if the owners would give permission for this. Good luck!

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