Thursday March 19 2009

This three-storey terrace in Melbourne’s inner east is full of surprises, not least because it inhabits a sandstone shell that served for a century as an Anglican church hall. A few years ago, the heritage-listed hall was re-worked into four 12-metre high voids above an existing underground carpark. Armed with a scrapbook of big ideas, the homeowner retained BG Architecture – the firm that designed the restoration and upgrade of the heritage building – to help turn the empty space into a home.

The result is a practical, light-filled residence, which has adapted to its owner’s changing needs – from bachelor pad to newlywed nest with wife Lauren, and now home to a growing family: daughter Lola is two and there’s another baby on the way.

“It was fantastic to work with people who were so passionate about the project,” says architect Donna Brzezinski. The scrapbook included such concepts as a library (which inspired the two-and-half-storey feature bookcase linking the different levels of the home), an image of a Mondrian painting (realised as a soaring multi-paned, coloured-glass screen beside the stairs) as well as pictures of grass artworks by British artists Ackroyd and Harvey (the muted-green fabric panels in the main bedroom). A feature bookcase at the entrance to the ground level forms the home’s spine, reaching to the second floor and forming a void that lets light permeate all areas from above. The ground floor also hosts a gym, two bathrooms and two bedrooms, one of which can double as a study. The galley kitchen and open-plan living area are on the first floor, with a landing overlooking the bookshelf void. Up another level are the main bedroom, ensuite and deck, which is accessed from the main bedroom via a clever tilting glass door.

In the kitchen, appliances are integrated into the benches and cabinetry, making the room feel larger. “My husband and I like to cook together, so we love having plenty of preparation space,” says Lauren.

The couple are both delighted with the look. “We never get a ho-hum response when people visit for the first time,” says Lauren. They are also dedicated fans of the practicality of the design. “The house is great for entertaining. The built-in barbecue on the deck is brilliant. In summer, it’s the hub of activity.”

The couple was adamant that the design retain original features of the church hall, such as the timber beam that juts into the main living area. The ensuite bathroom, too, boasts an unusual curve: the semi-circular shower recess appears to be carved out of the wall – in truth, it was built to accommodate the staircase above it.

What really make this house special, though, is the flexibility of the layout. “The house just adapts as we need it to,” says Lauren.