Council Street, Clifton Hill

Council Street, Clifton Hill

Vision: The aim was to turn an 1800s weatherboard cottage into a stylish modern home – without impacting the original house. Any renovation also had to be invisible from the street.

Approach: This project required extensive planning and communication with council due to a restrictive heritage overlay. A creative solution was needed, so we decided a light-filled atrium would be the ideal way to mark the transition between the past and present parts of the design. The old cottage offers two bedrooms, a study and a bathroom, before moving through the atrium into the brand-new kitchen, living and dining area. The new first floor adds a master bedroom with walk-in robe, ensuite and a private terrace. Due to the narrow block, we created a curved roof to avoid overshadowing the neighbouring property.

Outcome: A house in ‘two halves’ that works perfectly as one, setting the scene for stylish inner-suburban living.

“To move from the heritage home into the modern extension, we used a light-filled atrium to elegantly mark the transition. You feel a sense of the building’s history and future as you progress through it.”