Creating a sleek and modern, yet hard-wearing extension that sits comfortably alongside the character of the existing South Melbourne Terrace was no mean feat for Eliza Blair Architecture. The owners had lived in their home for 15 years and wanted to retain the building’s little quirks and character as much as possible, given its history as a general store.

So, the real talent of Eliza Blair was not in stripping the bones bare and totally transforming the space, as any architect would love to do. It was in creatively using the existing quirky features the owners loved and turning them into opportunities. For instance, retaining the existing steel stair–though adding a new balaustraude– as well as the fireplace, which runs up both levels and divides the kitchen and dining room. Even though removing it would have opened the rooms up to create a view to the garden, retaining it and exposing the bricks was a clever way to zone the spaces and anchor the design, while providing a reminder of the home’s unique past.

South Melbourne Terrace is a three level forever home that will function well for this family of four to ‘grow up’ in. It’s basking in natural light and presents a seamless connection from the rear living area to the outdoors, making full use of the back yard’s majestic gum tree.

As a forever home, the owners wanted long-lasting materials, and bricks were their material of choice. “My clients fell in love with the Petersen D91 bricks; they loved the tonal variation. And I really liked the tone and texture, too. In fact, it all worked quite organically because we were trying to reference and celebrate the colours of the beautiful bluestone building next door … and the tones of the D91s also really respond to the tones of the gum leaves in the back yard,” Eliza comments.

One of the highlights of the extension is the Petersen D91 brick pillar that creates an inviting indoor/outdoor connection, flowing from the back door to the living room inside, culminating in a cosy reading seat. “That little cosy nook gets all of the afternoon sun, and my client keeps telling me that the bricks look stunning in that corner with the warm evening light coming in. This is where my client loves to read her book … I just love hearing these anecdotal stories of how they live in the house once it’s all completed,” Eliza remarks.

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