Heritage with A TWIST

Asian culture meets Australian lifestyle at this dynamic Victorian dwelling

- KYLIE BARACZ

Victorian homes with '80s additions are rife throughout Australian suburbs, and this heritage abode was no exception. Run down and in need of repairs, the home was desperate for a renovation to lift its look and create space for a busy family.

The brief given to Bryant Alsop Architects was to create a dynamic design-driven home that could house both the homeowners, two doctors with two young children, and their extended family who came to stay. "It was clear from early discussions with our clients that this family was looking for a design that sat 'outside the box'," says Sarah Bryant, designer at Bryant Alsop Architects.

"It was decided relatively quickly that a single-storey design would offer the accommodation needed and allow for a high-raked ceiling and more dynamic spaces." The once-tired old home received a complete makeover, featuring four bedrooms, two living areas, a study, and three-and-a-half bathrooms.

Curved walls were added to allow spaces to fold into one another and wrap themselves around a central north-west-facing outdoor deck. The main hallway was also widened, Tasmanian oak timber floors were laid throughout, and original plasterwork was restored.