Elegant, grand and ornate. Melbourne’s treasure-trove of historic houses have proudly stood the test of time, gracing our leafy streetscapes for a century or more.
And due to ever-tightening local council restrictions – designed to retain heritage character and reduce over-development – the best of these solidly-built classics will be around for many generations to come.
But while the facades remain true to a bygone era, in many cases there’s a different story taking place behind the scenes. With most of the building/restoration rules and overlays applying only to the houses’ visible street-facing features, an increasingly bold range of rear extensions are catapulting these homes daringly into the 21st century.
Melbourne architects are leading the surge in creating solutions to ensure our wealth of Victorian, Federation and ArtDeco houses retain their historical good looks while adding spectacular new spaces with all the ‘wish list’ features associated with contemporary liveability.
Working within the parameters of existing façades and their pre-determined proportions, designers can really put their ingenuity and skill to the test, creating stunning transitions between existing and new spaces that artfully span the centuries with plenty of ‘wow factor’.
Incredible renovations with contemporary influences from all over the world can be found in some of Melbourne’s most glorious heritage homes. These extension styles include New York Industrial, Scandinavian Minimalism and Minnesota Modernism, which may well lead to some catchy new portmanteaus. Perhaps VicMod, FedScandi or DecoMin?
They have already got their own overarching nickname – with some in the industry labelling them ‘mullet houses’ – ‘traditional in the front, modern in the back’. And like the haircut, it seems the style is here to stay.
Marshall White has some fantastic heritage homes with ‘old meets new’ renovations currently for sale and recently sold. Take a look:
23 Bambra Road, Caulfield North
Endless Opportunity Across 4 Titles
Expressions of Interest Close: Thursday 20 May
Should you require advice on any aspect of selling your property, contact our Marshall White Sales Team for assistance on (03) 9822 9999