Daylesford Australia

Planning Permission has been granted for our latest project in Australia. Daylesford is a town north-west of Melbourne. Its origin in the goldrushes and subsequent popularity as a spa resort have left a legacy of handsome Victorian buildings, elegant streets and mature trees. Our designs retain the existing house (there is a heritage overlay) but convert it to bedroom and bathroom use. A new pavilion-like wing provides an upper-level sitting, dining and kitchen space and thanks to the falling away ground levels, this hovers in the tree canopy. A stair drops to a more introspective library and service rooms. The two elements are connected with an entrance link that also leads to a deck. Three axes order the design; the first is on the entrance sequence from street gate, front door and out to a sculptural Norfolk Island Pine tree. This is crossed by a long vista through the cottage, the link, over the dining table and into the landscape beyond. A third axis through the large living room skewers the kitchen, stairs and fireplace. This space has a high ceiling and clerestory light source.

The two structures sit in a kind of equipoise. The new element’s design takes clues from its older sibling with the matching roof pitch and strong solid and void composition. Cladding continues the cottage’s sheet and batten system, solid wall sections bookend and anchor the form and a single colour unites the different elements. Overall, the proposal sets up clear distinctions between old and new, open and closed, public and private.

Local partner architect is www.elementarchitects.com.au