A Glazed Addition Amps Up the Allure of a Victorian Home in Melbourne

HA Architecture introduces a wall of windows to bring life and life into an Australian mullet home.

The steel-framed doors fully open to the courtyard, maximizing indoor/outdoor living space on the small lot.

When Nick Harding of Ha Architecture was hired to renovate an 1880s Victorian terrace home in Moreland, Australia, the firm was met with a series of challenges. The original structure had great bones, but it lacked natural light—and it would take some clever architectural planning to give the residents the open and airy spaces they so desired. Furthermore, Harding would have to work around a series of building regulations due to the property’s heritage status.

Steel-framed glass doors provide plenty of natural light. Harding took extra steps to ensure that the house was properly insulated.

Steel-framed glass doors provide plenty of natural light. Harding took extra steps to ensure that the house was properly insulated. “We aren’t great at thermally designing houses in Australia,” he says. 

Dave Kulesza

The Chamfer House is one of many Victorian terrace houses constructed from the 1880s to the 1890s in Melbourne.

The Chamfer House is one of many Victorian terrace houses constructed from the 1880s to the 1890s in Melbourne.

Dave Kulesza

The home, which is located in a booming and culturally diverse part of Melbourne, features ornate steelwork typical of a 19th-century Victorian. The homeowners, who happen to be old friends of Harding’s, fell in love with its charming facade.

“The brief was pretty simple,” he says. “It was very much about bringing in natural light and having naturally lit living spaces that would be timelessly designed and functional.”

The front stairway features a delicate archway and wood flooring. While the goal wasn’t to match the same timber, the addition’s minimalist color palette and choice of timber help smooth the gap between the old and the new.

The front stairway features a delicate archway and wood flooring. While the goal wasn’t to match the same timber, the addition’s minimalist color palette and choice of timber help smooth the gap between the old and the new. 

Dave Kulesza

See the full story on Dwell.com: A Glazed Addition Amps Up the Allure of a Victorian Home in Melbourne
Related stories:

  • My House: An Architect Couple’s Playful Courtyard Home in Los Angeles
  • This Wild, Curvaceous Home Is Buried Beneath the Earth
  • A Bold Blue Extension Caps a Weatherboard Cottage in Melbourne

Similar Posts

  • Best Eclectic Living Rooms in White: Weaving Together Contrasting Elements!

    Life can seem boring and dull at times and this is truer when you are stuck indoors in uncertain times or even on just a dreary, rainy week with very little sunlight all around. If you have a living room that is draped in beige, has a while sofa and a few other décor pieces […]

    You’re reading Best Eclectic Living Rooms in White: Weaving Together Contrasting Elements!, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • This Serene Traditional Japanese Home is Built for Rest and Rejuvenation

    Traditional Japanese design is all about harmony and being one with nature at all times. Balance is a key part of it all and with it you also have a relaxing environment where you can rest and rejuvenate with ease. The Beniya Mukayu Byakuroku designed by Kiyoshi Sey Takeyama + AMORPHE is an escape where […]

    You’re reading This Serene Traditional Japanese Home is Built for Rest and Rejuvenation, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Dark and Dashing Exterior in Black: Contemporary LL House in Argentina

    Creating a relaxing and smart home environment in an urban setting is hard and often it involves smart management of space and creation of private spaces. Designed by A4estudio, the gorgeous and contemporary LL House in Mendoza, Argentina is one such residence where tranquility is combined with modern ergonomics in a seamless fashion. A series […]

    You’re reading Dark and Dashing Exterior in Black: Contemporary LL House in Argentina, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Rustic Vanities That Will Add Charm To Any Bathroom

    While many people favor sweeping open floor plans and sleek, modern finishes in their homes today, there will always be a place for rustic decor in the design world. Rustic elements, featuring materials like wood and metal, bring in a cozy and familiar flair that can stand on its own or complement other styles. Whether […]

    You’re reading Rustic Vanities That Will Add Charm To Any Bathroom, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.

  • Small Breakfast Nooks Perfect for the Modern Space-Savvy Home

    As Halloween knocks on the door, it is definitely that time of the year when large parties and grand dinners are the norm. But 2020 seems to have a mind of its own. For many of us, staying home and staying safe is still the priority – something that we really do not have much […]

    You’re reading Small Breakfast Nooks Perfect for the Modern Space-Savvy Home, originally posted on Decoist. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to follow Decoist on Twitter, Facebook and Pinterest.