Project: Victorian Italianate Villa / Villa d’Arte
Architects: SJB Architecture
Builder: Leone Constructions
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Year 2018
Photography: Lucas Allen
Text by SJB Architecture
Erasing all trace of an 80s renovation, the design, restoration and renovation of this Victorian Italianate Villa, considers a contemporary lifestyle that is free flowing, engaged and comfortable. Drama and calm in equal parts coalesce to signal shifts within newly opened heritage volumes and a contemporary extension.
Working with clients that were well known to us, the project was essentially a reversal of downsizing where the client and a large art collection were moving from a contemporary penthouse to a grand Italianate villa. There was also a large collection of furniture to be incorporated including both a contemporary collection from the penthouse and historic collection from their farmhouse.
The new extension in concrete and zinc inhabits the outdoor space and provides a contemporary component isolated from the main heritage volume. The kitchen and butler’s pantry residing within this area uses black timber cabinetry and heavily veined black marble to counter the great penetration of light and brightly coloured contemporary art. The continuation of timber as a flooring ties the whole back to the house as does the view back into the garden and heritage elements of the house. Fine details such as the slim vertical black pendant lamps over the marble island visually cohere to the black steel framed windows and black line seen throughout the project.
