The heritage location in the inner-south Melbourne suburb of Elsternwick – the polychromatic splendour of Rippon Lea mansion is in the neighbourhood – required sensitivity to the local built form while establishing its own contemporary presence. From the street, the building presents as a two-storey dwelling attached to a single-storey pavilion, relating to the height variations typical of the area.The pitched roof forms, deep reveals on the upper bedroom and use of face brickwork also contribute to the heritage response.
The building structure is a conventional timber frame clad in brick veneer. But that’s where the conventionality stops. Large glazed doors slide back to connect the vast main living/kitchen/dining area with its timber-lined ceiling to the long northern garden, blurring the distinction between internal and external. The garden’s rectilinear forms contrast with the sculptural informality of the house.
The blurring between inside and out continues at the main entrance where the face brickwork enters the house, which seems to be an emerging trend.“I think this is becoming a little bit more common,” agrees builder Joe Dema of BD Projects.“We are doing more projects now where they are integrating that external finish inside and extending the relationship between the outside and the inside.”
The bricks are Daniel Robertson London Roman, a 50mm-high brick that is extraordinarily popular in Melbourne’s upmarket suburbs such as Toorak. In this project they are laid with a charcoal tinted mortar and raked joints. “Paul Golding from All Things Brick Block & Stone is a quality tradesman,” Dema commends.“We use him on most of our jobs.”
Jackson Clements Burrows can take pride in having created a contemporary classic – in terms of both its design and performance – that will enhance the streetscape of this heritage suburb and the lives of its occupants.