Theresa Street Residence / Sonelo Design Studio

Architects: Sonelo Design Studio
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Architects In Charge: Wilson Tang, Elodie Lim
Area: 170.0 m2
Project Year: 2013
Photographs: Peter Bennetts

Builder: Legion Building Solutions

From the architect. Subtlety is the one word Theresa Street residence evokes.

On our first visit to this single storey house off a cul-de-sac lane, we were dazed by what presented before us. Upon entry, we were greeted by a tripartite layout with rather wide hallway barrelling through the gut of the house into the living room. Two clumsy stairs ascended from hallway to mezzanines. Spaces were dim and disjointed. Mezzanines were low in headroom. Bathrooms were bunker like, far removed from the loft interiors it boasted.

We were tasked to create a seamless light-filled interior whilst not diminishing the accommodation. With a modest construction budget, contrary to the extent of works required, our intervention became an exercise of restraint. A rigorous re-planning was necessary to bring forth spatial clarity and continuity.

New kitchen, dining, and bathrooms were relocated to the heart of the house, previously a bland hallway. They linked existing front entry to the living room, simultaneously benefitting from the tall gable ceiling. Selection of finishes took cue from existing industrial detail and palette was kept neutral.

The outcome is a modest seamless interior effortlessly disguising the old as new.