When the architect Laura Hoare, owner of Laura Vivian Architecture, bought her Edwardian House from the 1910s in 2017, the property was in poor condition, but still had a lot to offer.
“Although there are no overlaps or planning controls for inheritance, we were strongly of the opinion that the house and the street deserve our care and our respect,” says Laura. “It was the perfect opportunity to keep what we could and make a meaningful contribution to the rhythm of the street landscape.”
The architect and her family soon started a renovation – the first stage concentrated on the restoration of a large part of the original house – to secure his inheritance for another 100 years.
The first stage introduced the comfort of the creature (an EN -Suite bathroom, hydronic heating and air conditioning) into the front bedroom and replaced the original wooden parts. A glazed window was also exchanged for hardwood dub glazing, which were carefully made by Whitstone windows and doors that repeated the original profiles.
The house was expanded in the second stage of the renovation, which was designed with existing magnolia in its center to anchor home in its landscape. The tree, which is previously hidden in the back garden and is thoroughly separated from the living areas, is now visible from several angles and brings Doppled Light, shadow and a nice view into the house.
“It is no longer just a backdrop – it feels like a lively, breathing presence that shifted with the seasons,” says Laura. “The way light filters through its branches and changing shadows over the shadows over the interior all day, brings a calm rhythm and a quiet connection to nature that we all really love.”
The encore is compensated for by the original axis of the house and steps back to the southern border to use the northern front while magnolia is surrounded by a rear deck.
On the ground floor there is a new bathroom and a cozy scope, followed by the voluminous open-plan kitchen, living and dining areas.
Back -backed but robust materials, including solid wooden bench tops from Australian sustainable hardwoods, polished concrete and bricks, are suitable for young family life and encourage Laura's children and dogs, conveniently to interact with space.
“The last thing we wanted was valuable how the children use the house,” she says. “Increased carpenters in the residential areas catch a beautiful sunlight all day long and have become the most popular places to sit, play or just lie in the sun.”
The sufficient natural light ensures that even on the gray winter days, the living spaces keep a feeling of warmth and brightness that contributes to the general comfort and livelihood of the house.
The compact on the upper floor contains only the home office and the gym and is withdrawn behind the original roof line to respect the neighborhood character.
The entire renovation was developed with flexibility to develop with Laura's family. It is a calming basis full of small, deliberate decisions that support your daily life quietly in the future.
Laura says: “It is not striking, but it works hard, and that's something that I am really proud of.”