Architecture

A WOW-Factor Extension In Brunswick

Rob Kennon Architects create the kind of projects that make you say ‘WOW’. I know, because that’s exactly what happened to me when I walked into today’s architectural house for a friend’s dinner party a few months ago!

This thoughtfully-designed addition to a previously humble Victorian home in Brunswick was designed by Rob Kennon Architects.

Written
by
Sally Tabart

Timber and concrete reign supreme in this thoughtfully designed addition to a Brunswick family home. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

‘The architectural expression, form and orientation of the addition are deliberately different to that of the lightweight, timber-framed, decorated Victorian Building it extends,’ says Rob. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

This concrete structure shelters the internal spaces from the hot summer sun, holds the building up, frames views and controls the spatial qualities of each environment. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The addition runs along the southern boundary, broken up by a narrow garden space that brings light and air into the south side of the living space. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Strong architectural lines of the extension contrast with the softer, more ornate facade. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

A daily-use back door. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

THAT blue carpet! A major feature in the contemporary extension. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Warm terracotta tiles and timber cabinetry contrast with the cool concrete and Yves Klein blue carpeting. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The addition sits on a modest block of 90sqm. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Designed for a family with young children, the house is zoned to accommodate their day-to-day needs. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

A corner of the kitchen. Mud Australia Pebble Bowl large in Slate. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The island kitchen and built-in dining nook encourage socialising and entertaining.Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The cosy dining space with a background of terracotta tiles. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The master bedroom and ensuite sits separately to the bedrooms in the original part of the house, offering privacy for parents. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Looking out from the original part of the home through the open-plan new extension. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

The modern, simple ensuite to the master bedroom. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Outside the master bedroom window is a view of the garden. Photo – Derek Swalwell.

Writer
Sally Tabart
19th of April 2018

Designed with the requirements of a young family in mind, this modern extension by Rob Kennon Architects  in Brunswick will continue to adapt to the needs of its occupants as their family grows. Comprising a kitchen, dining and living space with a master bedroom and ensuite, the contemporary concrete addition allows privacy for both the old and the new bedrooms in the house, linked by communal living areas intended to bring the family together.

Filled with natural light, this house was MADE for entertaining. Oversized floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors can be pulled open completely, creating a seamless transition between outdoor and indoor spaces. Spacious and open plan, the new part of the house is centred around its vast island kitchen, with adjoining cosy dining nook, overlooking a step-down living area.

Timber joinery sits flush thanks to pop-open cabinets concealing all the functional everyday things. Undoubtedly the most striking feature is the bold Yves Klein blue carpeting throughout the living area, providing an accent of playful sophistication, like a statement shoe to a smart pantsuit!

Concrete has been used to remarkable effect as the dominant structural material for both practical and historical qualities. Sheltering spaces from the hot summer sun and allowing the internal areas to remain naturally cool, the utilitarian material is ‘a reminder of the widespread use of concrete in the 50’s and 60’s by the European migrants that enriched Brunswick and surrounding areas’ explains Rob.

The modern addition works in tandem with its original counterpart, opening up the home and providing the perfect environment for both connection and independence.

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