The Ridgeway House by Ha Architecture - Modern Charred Timber Extension

Representing both a meeting of minds and of architectural styles, the Ridgeway House saw Ha Architecture work closely with fellow architect Steve Coster to design a compact, meticulously planned charred timber extension to a Victorian weatherboard home in Kensington, Melbourne.

A longstanding friendship between Nick Harding, principal of Ha Architecture, and Steve Coster, Managing Director of Hassell, who grew up together in Adelaide, led to a unique architect-client relationship built on trust and mutual respect. “We both bought our professional knowledge to the project and pushed and extended each other into directions that we wouldn’t otherwise have gone,” reflects Nick.

Steve’s expertise in client briefing and strategic workplace design led to an extremely thorough feasibility study which was integral to understanding all aspects of the site. This, in turn, informed the design process and response to both the site and the brief. “The brief was to create a modern, comfortable and sustainable extension for a family of five,” explains Nick. “Strong demarcation between old and new allowed the extension to juxtapose against the existing heritage weatherboard house. The angular contemporary extension was shaped from shadow studies and a desire for strong solar access.”

Above - The brief sought a demarcation between the original heritage weatherboard and the new, contemporary extension. Left - A void forms connection between spaces for easy family living.

As a result of the extensive information gained through this initial feasibility, and the insight provided by Steve who had lived with his family in the original house for many years, the decision was made to site the project hard up against the eastern boundary and orient the extension to the north-west. While this was somewhat counterintuitive, Nick says, the architects’ shared trust ensured they were both confident in the siting and orientation.

Key to this decision was the imperative contained in the brief to keep the building footprint compact so as not to encroach on the rear yard while maximising and controlling solar access. “This required some ingenuity to ensure the spaces worked well and felt expansive,” says Nick. “With a contained floorplan, a void is integral to create added dimension across all spaces. Across the two levels, the void allows natural light to be the focus of the design, making an otherwise conventional extension with a small footprint feel generous and experiential.”

Above - Flexible, connected spaces across changing levels create a sense of space and functionality within the compact footprint. Below - The brief ensured that no space within the rear yard was lost, and shadow studies informed the decision to site the extension hard up against the eastern boundary. Photography by Derek Swalwell.

With the void providing borrowed space and light, the house is comprised of a series of flexible and connected spaces, both internally and between the indoors and outdoors. “The connection between inside and outside allows the rear yard to be used continuously whilst the sequence of steps down through the house has created a strong visual relationship between multiple living situations,” Nick explains. “This works particularly well for parents and kids having their own space, while not feeling segregated.”

Operable timber batten screens further enhance and mediate the connection between indoors and outdoors, while contributing a detailed design language to the otherwise restrained interior. With the north-west orientation providing good solar access, the batten screens provide control over light, allowing the house to be tailored over the day to suit multiple modes. “We did not envisage the beauty of the living room with all screens closed and windows open (allowing for breezes through the house in warmer weather) until the project was completed and the client had moved in,” Nick recalls. “It was a beautiful moment when this unfolded and we realised this additional mode the space offered.”

Above - Timber batten screens act as a shading device that mediates the connection with the outdoors. Below - The kitchen is a central space from which other key areas of the home emanate. Photography by Derek Swalwell.

While the new black-clad addition sets out to create a stark aesthetic divergence from the dainty white original Victorian, it is arguably the kitchen that represents the strongest contrast between the old and the new. The kitchen is the central place from which other spaces emanate and through which they connect. Opening directly onto the rear yard, the kitchen also becomes a conduit with the outdoors. As the heart of the home, the design reflects the kitchen’s role as not only a key functional zone but as a space for entertaining and gathering as a family. A sculptural island bench visually represents the kitchen’s status as a key place of connection and circulation. Designed by the client, “the curved form is based on the perpetual traffic movement around the kitchen and its role as the heart of the house,” says Nick.

Dark-stained timber joinery recalls the charred timber exterior and, paired with natural stone with extensive grey marbling, creates a sophisticated yet calm aesthetic. In order to achieve this level of refinement, Ha Architecture worked with Fisher & Paykel to specify appliances that either integrated seamlessly into the joinery or complemented the overall design intent. “With the planning of the house being so integral to the process, the integration of all the Fisher & Paykel appliances is a really big part of everything feeling cohesive,” Nick says.

Above - Fisher & Paykel’s integrated French Door refrigerator is hidden within the dark timber joinery. Below - Fisher & Paykel appliances, including a built-in electric oven and induction cooktop complement the refined design intent. Photography by Derek Swalwell.

An integrated French-door refrigerator is hidden behind a wall of joinery. Meanwhile, the induction cooktop rests unobtrusively as a simple black glass surface within the stone benchtop, and the inbuilt electric oven is both aesthetically streamlined and highly functional for family cooking. “The kitchen is extremely functional but doesn’t feel entirely like a kitchen, it’s very much an entertaining space so the integration is really vital,” Nick reflects. “You just wouldn’t get the level of design and integration anywhere but Fisher & Paykel.”

Just as the new addition comes together with the heritage original home, the Ridgeway House as a whole represents the meeting of two architects. In the precision with which the project is executed, the Ridgeway House exemplifies the power of collaboration.