Decorative old and minimalist new meet at Wyoming House by Inarc
A sharp, white house near the banks of Melbourne's Yarra River blends majestic old decor and minimalist new elements in a design by architecture studio Inarc
![inarc wyoming](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/vBrd9XyP9fmzVZdtoY34gn-415-80.jpg)
Refinement is the order of the day in this elegantly reappointed 1870s Victorian house, thanks to a comprehensive overhaul and restoration by the Melbourne studio Inarc. Set in Studley Park, a long-established suburb near to the city’s twisting Yarra River, the house sits amongst what were once market gardens and small farms established to feed the city in its early years. Many of the large houses and plots that made up this streetscape were subsequently subdivided, demolished and redeveloped, but this particular house, Wyoming, clung on to its corner site, withstanding any radical change.
The owners have spent 13 years here and knew the site and their requirement inside out. Their brief to Inarc was to extend the house, expand the interior spaces and restore and retain the elements of the house, inside and out, that reference the long history of the area. Change has already brought eclecticism, and the Studley Park of the 21st century is a melange of original Victorian houses and modern structures in every shape and style.
The key components of the surviving house were the principle function rooms, with high ceilings, meticulous panelling and cornice details, and elaborate decorations. The substantial new addition replaces an earlier garage block and includes a utility area, self-contained apartment and space for three cars on the lower ground floor, above which sits an impressive master suite and kitchen and dining room.
The original structure, to the west of the site, is restored and transformed into an open plan area with three sitting rooms and a grand dining room, making the most of the tall windows and beautiful detailing. The entrance, marked by a new pavilion, creates a formal route from the main street. Planting includes Canary Island date palms, a particular favourite in the Victorian era, alongside other tropical favourites.
Old and new are united by a glazed link, with the three-storey new structure making the most of the site’s slope. Two further bedrooms are located on the top floor of the new addition, set back to create a stepped façade. White walls with blade-like angled steel details give the addition a striking contemporary look, with the steel carried through into the original structure in the form of a slender verandah on the north façade, shading the junction between house and garden. The interiors are minimalist, with luxurious materials like marble used in the kitchen, stone floors throughout and meticulous detailing like the bespoke steel handrails. These make a stark contrast with the exquisitely restored mouldings, creating a space that tells its story of evolution over time.
INFORMATION
Wallpaper* Newsletter + Free Download
For a free digital copy of August Wallpaper*, celebrating Creative America, sign up today to receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
-
Commune’s sustainable personal care products look ‘quite unlike anything else’
Commune’s Somerset-made products stand out in the sustainable skincare crowd. Madeleine Rothery speaks with the brand’s co-founders Kate Neal and Rémi Paringaux
By Madeleine Rothery Published
-
‘Hedonistic and avant-garde’: Rabanne’s Julian Dossena on the legacy of the chainmail 1969 bag
Paco Rabanne’s 1969 chainmail handbag encapsulates the late designer’s futuristic, space-age style. Current creative director Julien Dossena tells Wallpaper* about the bag’s particular pleasures
By Jack Moss Published
-
Postcard from Paris: Olympic fever takes over the streets
On the eve of the opening ceremony of Paris 2024, our correspondent shares her views from the streets of the capital about how the event is impacting the urban landscape.
By Minako Norimatsu Published
-
Proclamation House is a hempcrete urban sculpture nestled under peppermint trees
Built from hempcrete and stone, Proclamation House, a sculpturally angular build in Perth, Western Australia, carves out an intriguing niche on a quiet suburban street
By Carli Philips Published
-
Remembering Alexandros Tombazis (1939-2024), and the Metabolist architecture of this 1970s eco-pioneer
Back in September 2010 (W*138), we explored the legacy and history of Greek architect Alexandros Tombazis, who this month celebrates his 80th birthday.
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Sun-drenched Los Angeles houses: modernism to minimalism
From modernist residences to riveting renovations and new-build contemporary homes, we tour some of the finest Los Angeles houses under the Californian sun
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Behind the timber façade of a Byron Bay house in Australia
Son Studio designed this Byron Bay house as an honest exterior for a light-filled Australian retreat
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
South Yarra House makes a sculptural statement in Melbourne
South Yarra House by Pandolfini Architects explores the interplay of compression and expansion through a series of surprising sculptural objects in Australia
By Grace Bernard Published
-
Burnt Earth Beach House is an experimental retreat crafted in terracotta
The experimental Australian Burnt Earth Beach House by John Wardle breaks new ground in material composition, using baked earth for warmth, texture and tonality
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Lavender Bay house opens towards the water, overlooking Sydney harbour
Lavender Bay house by Tobias Partners is an expansive family home overlooking Sydney harbour
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Mori House is an Australian beach escape fusing international design influences
Mornington Peninsula's Mori House by architect Manuel Aires Mateus is a striking fusion of Australian, Portuguese and Japanese design influences
By Stephen Crafti Published