A careful adaptive reuse of a Federation-era residence introduces a white-timber addition and light-filled interiors oriented to the park.

Project Overview

Lucy Clemenger Architects, with interiors by the practice and Studio Stamp, reconfigured an 1890s Federation house in St Kilda West, Melbourne, through an adaptive reuse that preserves front heritage rooms and adds a restrained rear extension. The project centers on an ice white–finished blackbutt timber volume that addresses the adjacent park while opening living spaces to light and landscape.

The renovation retains the home’s Federation character at the street side and concentrates new work at the rear. A modern addition refines circulation, increases daylight, and establishes a relaxed city beach-house atmosphere through pale timber, terracotta, and green tile accents. Interior styling by Studio Stamp and construction by Morcon Constructions complete the ensemble.

The white-toned timber facade of the renovated Federation house stands out against the backdrop.

Site and Urban Context

Positioned on a leafy street beside Jacoby Reserve, the house engages both a rear laneway and park frontage. The upper level angles to follow the laneway geometry, while a timber shroud modulates outlook and privacy across the boundary. From the park side, the white-clad volume reads as a floating element above a glazed ground floor to maximize views of trees and green space.

Comparable strategies for landscape-oriented living can be seen in Modular Harmony in East Hampton and in the sectional filtering of Interwoven Traditions, while the indoor–outdoor threshold is further explored in The Conservatory House.

Design Concept and Adaptive Reuse Strategy

The addition is conceived as a light-toned timber volume wrapped in a finely spaced shroud. Its slight skew aligns to the laneway, projecting above a green plunge pool and glazing below. The move establishes a legible conversation between the retained Federation massing and the new coastal-influenced form, emphasizing contrast without mimicry.

A large picture window frames selected views into the reserve, while the shroud filters light and screens neighboring outlooks. Internally, a consistent warm material palette links old and new, avoiding abrupt transitions.

The angled roof design complements the home's contemporary aesthetic.

Spatial Organization

Heritage rooms at the front retain their proportion and identity, including a blue-toned sitting space and a separate home office for focused work. The plan then opens to a contiguous kitchen–dining–living zone oriented to the deck and plunge pool. Full-height sliding doors dissolve the rear facade, expanding the social domain for entertaining while maintaining clear circulation.

Programmatic details include a concealed bar integrated within living room joinery, enabling clutter-free presentation between uses, and a generous walk-in closet connected to the main suite to accommodate a large fashion collection.

The kitchen area opens up to the outdoor deck, enhancing natural light.

Floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide views of the outdoor pool from the dining area.

Materials and Facade

Externally, blackbutt timber receives an ice white finish to soften grain and reinforce a coastal character. The timber shroud wraps the upper level to deliver privacy and solar filtering, set above a transparent ground floor. Inside, pale oak floors, oak joinery, terracotta tiles, timber lining boards, deep sea green tiles, and Carrara marble create a calm, tactile sequence that visually ties heritage elements to the new extension.

A cleverly concealed bar adds a playful element to the living space.

Light, Climate, and Atmosphere

Large expanses of glazing at the rear pull daylight deep into the plan. The shroud tempers brightness on the upper floor and edits views, while the ground level’s sliding doors heighten continuity between interior rooms, deck, and plunge pool. The combination of pale finishes and timber texture establishes a relaxed, luminous atmosphere suited to everyday living.

Design Highlights

• Ice White–finished Blackbutt Timber Shroud Wraps The Angled Upper Level, Aligning To The Rear Laneway and Filtering Privacy and Light.
• Upper Volume Projects Over A Glazed Ground Floor, Creating A Floating Expression Toward The Park and Plunge Pool.
• Open Plan Kitchen–dining–living Opens Via Full Height Sliders To A Deck and Green Plunge Pool for Expanded Entertaining Space.
• Material Palette Links Old and New: Pale Oak Floors, Oak Joinery, Timber Lining Boards, Terracotta, Carrara Marble, and Deep Sea Green Tiles.
• Concealed Living Room Bar Integrates Refrigeration and Storage Within Joinery To Keep The Space Visually Clear When Closed.
• Heritage Rooms Retained At The Front, Including A Blue Toned Sitting Room and A Dedicated Home Office.

Key Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

What aspects define the project’s adaptive reuse approach?

The design retains and restores key Federation-era rooms at the front while reconfiguring the rear with a contemporary addition. This approach preserves heritage character, upgrades functionality, and introduces open-plan living without erasing the original fabric. For broader context, see the adaptive reuse architecture: complete guide to reusing existing buildings.

Which facade and interior materials are most prominent?

The exterior features blackbutt timber finished in ice white, with a timber shroud wrapping the upper level. Interiors include pale oak floors, oak joinery, terracotta tiles, timber lining boards, deep sea green tiles, and Carrara marble.

How does the addition manage privacy and views near the park?

A finely spaced timber shroud screens neighboring outlooks and filters daylight, while a large picture window is strategically placed to frame views of Jacoby Reserve. The ground floor’s glazing opens to the deck and plunge pool for continuous park-facing living.