Home Tour: Lantern House, An Inner-City Haven

Who lives here: A family of five

Location: North Melbourne, Victoria 

Interior style: Classical with a pared-back palette of warm white, Tasmanian Oak, polished concrete and natural stone.

Favourite room: The contemporary double-height void that’s grand like the original heritage-listed part of the home. It connects the landscape to the indoors and a balcony area.

Favourite pieces: The natural stone island bench, splashback and fireplace hearth. It is nature’s art. We bookended the stone on the splashback so it looks like an inkblot. An unintentional nod to our client’s work in the psychology field.

Creating a spa-like sanctuary bathed in natural light was high on the agenda for the transformation of this North Melbourne Victorian Terrace. Purchased by a family of five, the heritage home had retained its grandeur but had a dark and pokey 80s extension at the rear with an overgrown garden and dated pool. 

THE BRIEF

Craving a home where they could feel a sense of connection with one another and the outdoors, the family knew they had a lot of work on their hands. They engaged Melbourne-based Timmins+Whyte Architects, who were like a breath of fresh air. Taking inspiration from their clients' profession in the mental health space, they reimagined the entire home into a place that blends the old world with the new to create a calming oasis that's all-embracing from the moment you step through the front door. 

"Given the original building design was not for the Australian climate, the biggest issue was light. The house was really tired and included a cramped little kitchen. You had to walk through the kitchen to get to the front and the back of the house, and it was separated from the living spaces," explains Sally Timmins, co-founder, director and architect of Timmins+Whyte.

"Like most heritage houses, the living room and bedroom spaces had beautiful high ceilings and generous floor space while the kitchen, bathroom and laundry were cramped, dark little spaces. Our approach to the design was first and foremost about rectifying those issues. From there, it was about understanding the family's needs and personalities to tailor the house to suit them," she says.

OLD MEETS NEW

With views from the front door to the backyard pool, the home, obviously from two different eras, have a wonderful sense of cohesion. In the original part of the home, the front rooms were turned into a study and second living area while the two bedrooms upstairs were updated. Yet still, it's the contemporary addition that really impresses with its double-height volume, glass-fronted space and beautiful use of stone, wood and metal. Reminiscent of a Japanese 'toro'; a traditional lantern.

THE VOID

A modern, light-filled space that incorporates two bedrooms, two bathrooms, laundry, study and an open-plan living area that flows effortlessly into a landscaped garden by Mud office and Josh Norman Landscapes.

It's a place where the family can gather; to cook, lounge, read and socialise - a calming space that utilises a thoughtfully considered blend of materiality that is both textured and layered in feeling and quality. Polished concrete flooring ties the interiors to the garden and courtyard, honey-toned Tasmanian Oak grace the ceiling, walls and joinery, and a striking double-sided fireplace adds another layer of warmth and texture. 

The feature of each room, though, is the 'ice green' natural stone from Signorino – the kitchen's benchtops and splashback, the fireplace hearth, atop the bathroom vanity, and within the laundry. It brings cohesion and beauty that Sally describes as nature's art, an inkblot that's an unintentional nod to their client's work in psychology.  

"To give the functions within the home definition, we utilised ceiling volumes and textures to create zones. The double-height space allows the family to interact between ground and first floor and feels incredibly open and light, almost like being outside," says Sally. "The internal balcony and the location of the two extra bedrooms allows the children to retreat for study or play but still interact with the family." 

Grand like the original heritage-listed part of the house, the contemporary domain is unlike its Victorian counterpart. It's light, bright and serene, a beautiful oasis to retreat to amid the bustle of inner-city living.

"Our clients have said they feel calm and like they are on holiday. Which has been great given the lockdowns during Covid in Victoria." 

THE NEIGHBOURHOOD 

Once a rough and ready working-class suburb, North Melbourne has evolved into a stylishly eclectic neighbourhood on the fringes of the CBD. Converted warehouses, charming period homes, majestically wide streets and an ever-growing roster of chic cafés and bars mean that this buzzing suburb is no longer a safely-guarded hidden gem.

Despite its proximity to the CBD, friendly North Melbourne is renowned for maintaining a strong sense of community – postcode-proud locals are fiercely loyal to their charming slice of inner-city living. The key to North Melbourne’s lasting appeal is how it successfully manages to sustain that laid-back village feel.

SITCHU’S FAVOURITE NORTH MELBOURNE HANGOUTS

For coffee: The simply, unfussy vibes of Twenty & Six Espresso belies the quality of its coffee.

For brunch: Auction Rooms for its industrial-chic interior and innovative fusion menu. It’s a long-time local favourite.

For dinner: For an easy and delicious feed, head straight to Oskar Pizza. 

For drinks: Prudence for happy hour every hour priced margaritas and its vintage interiors.

Go-to local boutique: Renowned among the locals, Martin Fella, is a vintage clothing store that specialises in preloved designer clothes and accessories

GET THE LOOK

Alex Earl Studio
Tide Design
Art by David Frazer

PROJECT CREDITS

Design team: Sally Timmins and David Whyte of Timmins+Whyte Architects @timminswhyte_architects

Engineering: Robin Bliem and Associates

Landscape: Design by Mud office, construction of landscape: Josh Norman Landscapes

Builder: (Robin Riotto) Barkers Burke Constructions @mudoffice @joshnormanlandscapes

Photography: Peter Bennetts @peterbbennetts

Words: Margaret Quilter @inky.content