Worker's cottage
Project
The building, designed by Leeton Pointon Architects, is a contemporary addition to a worker’s cottage in a heritage precinct.
Site
Located in the suburb of Port Melbourne, this corner site has two street frontages. The building is contributory to the Port Melbourne heritage precinct. Residences in the area are typified by Victorian and Edwardian dwellings, however, the redevelopment of industrial sites has meant the introduction of many contemporary buildings into the suburb.
Challenge
As a corner site, any addition would have been visible from the street. The heritage overlay specifies that external paint controls apply. As such, the colours and materials should not detract from the significance of the precinct.
Solutions
The copper cladding used on the roof and exterior walls was recycled from the State Library of Victoria. The successful use of this material in contemporary builds in the suburb is common, so its choice was appropriate. As a natural material, copper’s tendency to weather and visually soften will allow the addition to gently age and blend with the neighbourhood.
The zero setback to the secondary street has been extended for the full length of the new addition. The inclusion of high accent windows along this wall on the ground floor allows light to enter the space while maintaining privacy.
Lessons
This project illustrates that a small site in a heritage precinct does not necessarily restrict the opportunity to create a modern and spacious residence. The building does not borrow heavily from the fabric and detailed architectural form of other contributory buildings in the precinct. It does respect the scale, setback and general form of the surrounding streetscape and consequently is a comfortable modern inclusion to the heritage precinct.
Flickr photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritage_victoria/sets/72157617775931464/