Featured in The Local Project and The Design Files, this carefully considered project by Rob Kennon Architects intricately preserves its original 1920's Californian bungalow character alongside a contemporary and modern extension. Set within a quiet, leafy corner of Northcote's Inner North, the home has been long occupied by a practising artist and builder raising their family, shaping the space by real life rather than display, and adding layers of history and stories to every room.
A staged restoration from 2011 returned the original bungalow to its former self, its traditional weatherboard facade, brick verandah and double front doors reinstated to open onto an extra-wide hallway lined in the home's original Baltic Pine. Warmed by hydronic heating panels, three bedrooms, all with built-in wardrobes and desks, sit at the front alongside a family bathroom and front lounge, before the hallway arrives at an exposed brick wall lit from above by a circular skylight, marking the quiet and considered threshold where the old bungalow gives way to the new.
Beyond this, the 2018 extension unfolds as a single-level pavilion wrapped in locally made clay brick and blackbutt timber panelling, its warm, russet walls dividing and defining each new space in much the same way the original verandah once did. Heated concrete slab flooring underfoot maintains a natural equilibrium and at its heart, a brick core anchors the home; a dining area on one side, an indoor fireplace and joinery on the other, around which the open kitchen, dining and living zone gathers. The kitchen is finished with a Miele fridge/freezer, Fisher & Paykel double dish drawer and Smeg oven, while the adjoining lounge, set down a step and carpeted, offers a more intimate feel.
Floor-to-ceiling glass spans the rear of the addition, drawing northern light deep into the home, opening onto a timber deck and outdoor fireplace beyond. The former driveway has been reimagined as two light-filled studios divided by a courtyard - a painting studio to one side, a workshop to the other - with a laundry and study completing the plan. At the rear, the master suite retreats into its own quiet corner, with walkthrough wardrobe and completed by an ensuite with a skylight above its shower. Comfort is considered throughout, including concealed evaporative cooling, security cameras and alarm, remote-controlled blinds, surround sound systems, built-in USB charging, and attic storage behind a pull-down ladder.
Set on a corner block adjoining a public park, the garden borrows the sky and treetops beyond, with a concealed gate opening onto both the parkland and Derby Street. The same brick that defines the interior continues outside to form the boundary fence and a built-in gas barbecue with its floating concrete bench, turning the rear garden into an outdoor room for gathering through every season. A native garden, with an enclosed outlook completes a rare sense of an outdoor sanctuary.
Positioned on a corner adjoining Derby Reserve in the heart of Northcote's Inner North, the home sits within easy reach of parks, playgrounds and recreational grounds, with weekends spent at Northcote Aquatic Centre, Northcote Tennis Courts and junior sport at McDonnell Park. Everyday life is well served by Northcote Plaza, while the cafes and restaurants of High Street round out the Inner-North lifestyle. Tram and train connections from High St and nearby Northcote and Westgarth stations place the city comfortably within reach. A family home at its core, it falls within the zones for Westgarth Primary School and Northcote High School.
▶
