Description

A simple extension to a gracefully ageing nineteenth-century Victorian house in inner-Melbourne gradually developed into a deeply engaging conversation about how we live with and within the architecture of the past.

Through the unique circumstances of an elongated corner site, our project’s ideas and interests developed via the elevation drawing and we rigorously developed upon the design motif of the bustle—a fashion accessory normally associated with carriage dresses, profile illustrations and a bygone era.

Comprising a kitchen, dining room, bathroom and laundry, the modest addition was positioned as something of a central activator to the site, to the old house, and to the accompanying garden. This ultimately meant that the extension could re-create the relationship between the house and backyard and the adjacent street and community.

What's On

Learn more about the project with timed visits inside and outside the house, with an introduction by the client and the architect.

In Collaboration With:

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  Fiona Dunin

  Fiona Dunin established FMD Architects in 2005 with a focus on design intensive projects of varying scales and types.
  
  Fiona merges the two disciplines of interior design and architecture. Her experience is diverse, with a range of projects including residential, major retail and institutional projects over the last 30 years. The detailed nature of her work, coupled with her extensive research into material and product development, is reflected in the rich interiors and architecture produced.

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  FMD Architects

  Our architecture and interiors tell the stories of the place on which it resides, and the stories of the people who occupy the place, both past and present. We develop site-sensitive, sustainable design responses embedded with the particularities of our client, which maximises the natural amenity of the home to elevate a greater sense of wellbeing and connection to place.
  
  Our design response oscillates between the pragmatic and the poetic, always striving for unique creative responses which are engineered for the local conditions.
  
  FMD Architects is a practice with extensive experience in architecture and interior design of varying scales, types and budgets. The core work of the practice is boutique commercial, hospitality and residential work. The focus on specific projects enables a high level of client service as well as an intense design process with rigorous detail.
  
  A particularity of the practice is its extensive research into material and product development, which equips it with a knowledge to develop rich and inventive architecture. The personal and collective histories of our clients enrich our ideas on every project. Our methodology allows us to research thoroughly the particularity of any design brief without falling back upon generic response. We add value through an insightful creative process to produce a unique response to each project.

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  K5 Furniture - Erna Walsh

  K5 Furniture curates a refined collection of international design brands, bringing together contemporary furniture, lighting, and objects defined by craftsmanship, material integrity, and enduring form.
  
  Alongside these global collections, K5 is the custodian of two of Australia’s most significant mid-century legacies, the Boyd Collection and the Grounds Collection, both produced locally in Melbourne in collaboration with key cultural partners.
  
  Committed to Australian manufacturing and responsible practice, K5 holds the Australian Made licence and is a long-standing participant in the UN Global Compact.