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Adrienne

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The design ethos focuses on renovating the existing home to incorporate a new study, bedroom, ensuite, and dressing room without compromising its historical integrity. Read more
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A contemporary renovation that enhances a heritage home with a new study, bedrooms, and a basement, featuring a striking curved staircase and seamless integration of modern materials while preserving the original facade.

The design ethos focuses on renovating the existing home to incorporate a new study, bedroom, ensuite, and dressing room without compromising its historical integrity. A first floor has been constructed, including a small library, two bedrooms and a shared bathroom. Additionally, the project includes the construction of a basement to cater to guests and extended family members, although building it posed a challenge due to its proximity to the water table.

The new development is harmoniously integrated with the site and within the streetscape and does not diminish, detract from or compete with the significance of the heritage place or streetscape character. The original principal facade and roof are preserved, and the new contemporary addition is distinguishable from the original parts of the heritage place. 

A prominent feature of the home's construction is the curved staircase, serving as both a functional element and a work of art, symbolizing the seamless harmony between tradition and modernity. The open living and dining design forms the new heart of the project, providing a space that adapts to varying needs and occasions for the client. The living and dining area opens to the rear courtyard and pool, incorporating brick to extend the existing building to the new construction.

The design also includes extending the existing brick to the front portion of the property along the laneway, followed by a section of sawn bluestone cladding and finished with recycled face brick with a sliding vertically orientated charred timber cladding gate. This combination of materials emulates the mix generally seen within a laneway context, rather than having a uniform side boundary fence.

Completed
2023
Price range
$2m - $3m
Building style
Contemporary
1.0K1h 10m

Awards

2024

Heritage Design - WINNER (Adrienne)

Building Design Awards Australia

2024
AwardHeritage Design - WINNER (Adrienne)
OrganisationBuilding Design Awards Australia
2024

Alterations & Additions $2+ - WINNER (Adrienne)

Building Design Awards Australia

2024
AwardAlterations & Additions $2+ - WINNER (Adrienne)
OrganisationBuilding Design Awards Australia

Professional Reviews

1 / 2

“We were so fortunate to be one of the early clients of Rachcoff Vella Architecture back in 2008. Our house was finished in 2012, and the functional and timeless design still make living here an absolute joy. Tony worked with us to interpret our vision and then designed a home around those requirements. He is so good at what he does. He’s passionate, interested, humble - and getting the best outcome for his clients guides all of his thinking. Tony is a great communicator - working seamlessly across clients, specialist advisors, council, builders, and sub-contractors. He took complete ownership of the process. He knows the right questions to ask and he really listens and acts on the answers. The four pillars of a great working relationship with your architect are skills, design, communication and trust. He lived and breathed our build alongside us - and his commitment and interest has remained 10 years on. Carolyn and Mark Guirguis - Piermont Ballarat”

Carolyn Guirguis

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