The Bridge House, Melbourne

Kister Architects were engaged early in the design phase to ensure an integrated vision for the expanded site. As a primary response, the original concrete façade detail has been stretched away from the original building to form the ‘skin’ of the master retreat. Eschewing what has become a conventional strategy, that is, to add a double storey to the rear, this master wing is accessed by a private glass bridge at ground level. A curved shroud conceals the main bed from the neighbours’ view but maintains connection to nature and light. – a priority throughout. Blurring the distinction between the existing structure and the new was a deliberate strategy designed to create a unified architectural entity. A once-dark, enclosed undercroft, the original, elevated entry was rebuilt to create a new, ground-level foyer, light-filled and linked to the landscape, behind the original arches.

Spaces within the home –
The generous kitchen, lounge, sunken living room and glazed dining area – are delineated to maximise versatility and garden aspects, resulting in a haven for the entire family, with easy transitions from public to private zones, inside and out.

The prevailing aesthetic is a nuanced balance of old and new: white-on-white concrete flooring meets original terrazzo and bright blue plush carpet, timber lining envelops the interiors and burnt orange velvet couches nod to the home’s history. So, too, do the custom-bronze glass and flocked carpet in the sunken pit. The original glazed skylight has been scaled up and wrapped in a timber-lined ceiling to link with nature.