Donald St Renovation, Prahran by Chan Architecture

Donald St Update Prahran

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Renovating a single fronted Victorian terrace house always poses a unique set of challenges. The sites are often long and narrow with two-period bedrooms at the front and a collection of ad-hoc additions to the rear which is a reflection of the changing needs of the owners over the last century. This creates houses that are generally poorly planned, consist of cramped spaces with limited natural light, and with little connection to the outdoors. So the brief for this renovation was to keep the front two bedrooms and to add an extension with 2 more bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, separate laundry and a light, spacious and modern kitchen, dining and living room opening out directly to the backyard. Downstairs the bathroom, laundry, and stairs, clad in a painted timber-lined box, were located in between the bedrooms and living spaces, with access to light via light courts on the north side. This allowed for a clear transition between new and old, better access to services, as well as allowing the living room to open up uninterrupted to the backyard. On the first floor, the two bedrooms and ensuite were strategically located so as to allow skylights to the living spaces below, as well as respect the amenity of the neighbouring properties. The new living area opens up towards the garden, via fully openable stacker doors to allow the backyard to be part of the house, allow sunlight to penetrate into the living spaces in the winter months, and allow for natural ventilation to run through the entire house. The materials were carefully chosen to provide texture and subtle variety to give each space its' own individuality and to create different moods throughout the house, in particular with the selection of floor and wall tiles, light fittings, and floor finishes. Photography: Folded Bird Photography

Renovating a single fronted Victorian terrace house always poses a unique set of challenges. Read more

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Professional Reviews

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“Simone and I want to formally thank you for our beautiful home. Since moving back "home" we have had numerous visitors to our house and they have all commented on how fantastic the design is. Unexpectedly numerous tradesmen completing the final touches have taken the time to make positive comments. But most importantly our family is happy and enjoying the final result. When we had our first meeting with you over two years ago our aspirations were naive. We wanted the best parts of our Edwardian house retained- the large front rooms and the high ceilings. Crucially we wanted a modern house to meet the needs of our young family for the next 20 years. One of main reasons that we chose to engage you at that meeting was that we felt you "got it". You listened and were open to our needs and idea. Throughout the next two years that calm, patient and responsive approach was repeatedly demonstrated. The Sketch Design, Design Development and Town Planning phase is now a distant memory but it was at this stage your organisation and attention to detail became apparent. At this stage it seemed that almost no idea or request from us was too hard or unreasonable. We felt very reassured that we were able to explore a variety of concepts to arrive at what is now a pleasurable house to live in. Your advice and support in choosing the fittings, finishes and materials made this process so much easier. You gave us the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions. When tendering your efforts in seeking a builder to work within our budget constraints ensured that the final design became a construction project. It is hard to believe that I considered doing the contract administration myself. Miriam and your ability to work with the builder has saved our sanity! I had no idea how complex joining an 80 year old house to a new extension and liaising with so many trades could be. Whenever a friend asked: "How is your renovation is going?" I replied: "I don't know what I would do without Chan Architecture." At our site meetings I was regularly impressed at your ability to work with the builder to solve problems as they arose. I was worried about cost blowouts but amazingly cost variations were kept to less than 3% of the total budget. I think key to managing all of this was the high level of accurate documentation and organisation. As I now know you minimised the builder queries and decisions required from us. The clear phone, email and personal communication minimised much of the stress for us. It seemed that at any time I could call with a query and either Miriam or yourself would patiently answer. All the organisation, good communication and attention to detail would be pointless if the final product wasn't what we wanted. After just a few weeks of living at home we are enjoying the creative ways you introduced natural light in our house. We love the way the old and new join together. The rooms flow together so that home is a pleasure to be in. The spectacular upstairs extension provides exactly the quiet parents retreat we desired. Your guidance of finishes means the internal looks calm and subdued. Whilst the external is already a pleasurable talking point in Abbotsford. I could go on but suffice to say we anticipate will still be enjoying the design and efforts of Anthony and Miriam and be for grateful for the services of Chan Architecture. We would be pleased to discuss any queries from prospective clients and if it is helpful show them the finished product.”

- Nicholson St House, Abbotsford