Architect Cameron Greiner, an associate at Melbourne firm Jost Architects, says he was thrilled to be engaged to work on this property. His enthusiasm was threefold: the owners, Andrew Young and his wife Jordan, were longstanding friends; the project was one of his first as a registered architect; and the property held extraordinary historical significance.
Located in Kyneton, in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges, the land was purchased in 1881 by Andrew’s great-great-grandfather and, at the time, spanned 170 hectares and included two gold mines. Royalties from the mines helped finance the construction of the cottage they named ‘Riversdale’, a house that various family members have inhabited over the years. In 2018, Andrew inherited the home and enlisted Cameron to make it more functional for his young family while still respecting its provenance and upholding its 19th-century character.
High on the brief was the implementation of environmental best practice. Cameron oriented the extension to face north for light and thermal efficiency year-round, added eaves for shade and specified slot windows to the south for effective cross ventilation. “We were all on the same page regarding the sustainability objectives and it was agreed that passive design principles be prioritised for the addition, while the cottage would be upgraded and improved as much as possible,” says Cameron.
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