A minimalist concrete extension unfolds behind a heritage façade in Melbourne

Beyond the heritage façade of the St Vincents Place Residence in Albert Park, Melbourne, a highly-crafted contemporary extension unfolds.

While the project was essentially a renovation, B.E Architecture used materials associated with modernism such as insitu concrete, terrazzo style stone floors, painted timber ceilings and bluestone walling to completely reframe the feeling of the house.

The minimalist lap pool and wet room opening up to the garden

Yet, the character of the historic home wasn’t erased completely – the team reworked historic details of the original building such as curved cornices, arched doors and custom steel fireplaces, and threaded them through the house to create an artisanally crafted, while still minimalist design.

Built-in shelving and custom furniture designed by B.E Architecture expressly for the project shaped the architecture to the life and possessions of the client, whose vintage design pieces sourced from Europe and Asia were the inspiration for the architects when conceiving the refined, yet casual aethetic of the interiors. 

The substantial art collection of the client is woven architecturally through the house through a considered design framework – seen in the three storey light-well built around the light art piece ‘Heaven is a place where nothing ever happens’ by artist Nathan Coley or the niche designed for the wax sculpture Romeu ‘my deer’ by artist Berlinde De Bruyckere.