Twice As Nice

In Melbourne, a sympathetic extension has delivered on space without sacrificing character.

- Stephen Crafti

When Wayne Hope and Robyn Butler bought this modest 1950s cream-brick home, they knew it would need renovating to meet their family’s needs. On the upside, it was situated on a reasonably sized block and perfectly located to school for their daughters, Emily, now 17, and Molly, 24.

As luck would have it, the house was also close to the former home of architects Rosa Coy and George Yiontis, founders of Coy Yiontis. “Robyn and I always admired Rosa and George’s house,” says Wayne. “It had been really cleverly designed to cope with a pretty awkward triangular site.” When Robyn and Wayne were ready to renovate, there was no question who they would call.

Wayne and Robyn, both TV scriptwriters/ producers, had given the home a light cosmetic update when they first moved in but, thanks to George and Rosa, the abode has now gained a two-storey timber-clad extension, inviting pool and a 6.5x15m green wall to screen out the apartment block next door.

“The main problem at this property was that a freestanding studio out the back took up a significant amount of the land,” says George. “That said, there was plenty of scope for improvement, inside and out.”