Wurundjeri Country
Barry, a Victorian cottage nestled amidst a picturesque streetscape in Northcote in inner-urban Melbourne, has undergone a recent architectural resurrection by Zen Architects that sensitively brings the remnants of the home’s past into future relevance. The dovetailing of period gestures with contemporary design interventions has resulted in a delicate balance between past charm and future functionality.
The architectural reimagining of Barry was not just about updating its passive qualities, but also about redefining its spatial layout to cater to the needs of a modern family where both parents work from home. The innovative approach taken by Zen Architects ensured that the house retained its unique character while incorporating features like a mezzanine office space and a rooftop garden, creating multiple engaging experiences within the home and overt activations between indoors and out.
From insulating walls and refinishing flooring to shaping light-filled living spaces and incorporating splashes of colour to reflect the client's personal style, every element of Barry has been thoughtfully curated to enhance its liveability and aesthetics. Ultimately, light, volume, liveability and delight have become Barry’s touchstones, signals of the home’s new future-proofed iteration and markers of a family home that fosters client’s living patterns while innovatively maximising the potential inherent in its site.
Builder: Natural Build VIC
Photography: Thurston Empson