Robinson Rd House

Robinson Rd House is a contemporary rear extension to a New-England style home in Melbourne, where a steeply pitched slate roof, dormer windows and red clinker brickwork set the original character. The brief asked for the existing rooms and facade to be renovated and repurposed, with a new open-plan kitchen, dining and living space and a master bedroom added at the rear, alongside a stronger connection to the garden.

The central challenge was introducing modern spaces without losing the charm of the period home. Chan Architecture resolved this by carrying shared architectural elements through both old and new, including steel-framed doors and windows, herringbone timber flooring and soft window furnishings. The rear extension runs along the southern side of the block so that northern light reaches every main living and dining area, while full-height sliding doors stretch the length of its northern edge, dissolving the line between inside and out so the spaces read as one.

In-situ concrete is the defining material, used for the internal and external seating, the water feature and the mitred, cantilevered kitchen island bench. Its subtle shifts in colour and texture complement the industrial character of the steel-framed glazing.

The home spans two levels across a 350 m2 floor area on an 820 m2 site, completed in 2021.

Architect: Chan Architecture. Photography: Tatjana Plitt.