Located in an inner city suburb of Melbourne, Old House responds to the difficulty of creating architecture in heritage zones. The site was controlled by a heritage overlay which favoured the retention of existing dwellings.

In response to the clients desire to demolish the existing house, JCB proposed a strategy to replace the dilapidated cottage with a new house that integrated within a supergraphic image of its former self. The strategy appropriately preserved the streetscape context and presented an opportunity for a more remarkable architectural solution.

The project attempts to elevate the difficulties of obtaining planning approvals in heritage areas into a sublime and ironic gesture which may generate debate about the problem itself. In this sense it is both a critique of the process and a surreal architectural solution which is evocative of the site’s memory and historical context.

Country:

Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung

Year:

2006

Status:

Completed

Gross Floor Area:

270 sqm

Consultants:

Meyer Consulting, Emma Furguson

Builder:

BD Projects

Photography:

John Gollings