The single-family house “King Bill” with its impressive corrugated iron facade in Melbourne's Fitzroy district is clear evidence that the architecture of this urban area has experienced a magnificent development from a lower middle class district to a cultural center. The urban diversity that has been gained over decades is carefully maintained and protected by the residents.
The “King Bill House” is a conversion and extension project of a historic townhouse designed and carried out by the Australian architectural firm Austin Maynard in 2018. The client wanted the renovation and expansion of their two-story house to be a love letter to the residential area. The family of four also wantedmore living spacefor your children. Nevertheless, the developers wanted to gift the neighborhood with a small garden instead of gaining as many additional square meters as possible.
As part of the renovation work, the house facade on the street side was not changed in recognition of the cultural heritage. The single-storey extension is being phased outfascinating glass pavilionwith a corrugated iron facade and rounded corners. Its unique look creates an unmissable contrast to the red brick walls of the surrounding buildings. A light-flooded glass corridor separates the attractive extension from a former stable building and the residential building, which was built in 1850. The newly built single-story part of the single-family house presents the interior of the house through its curved glass shell. The homeowners use this room as a living room, dining room and kitchen.
The two old buildings, which were completely converted by the architects, can be reached via the bright corridor. They converted the former entrance area into a bathroom, while the stable accommodates the parents' bedrooms and the car lift. The entrance to the house was relocated. The garden is now located on the site of the original veranda. As in most projects by Austin Maynard Architects, the individual rooms here were designed to be as diverse as possible so that residents have the opportunity to retreat to the right room depending on their current mood. Regardless of whether you want to read a book undisturbed or want to open the glass fronts, “King Bill House” has something to offer for everyone.
The preservation of the existing trees was fundamental to the creation of a variety of spaces. The division was carried out precisely so that all trees remain untouched. Even the concrete slab of the extension protrudes above the foundation wall to avoid encroaching on the tree root zones. The Y-shaped steel frames are thin pillars that minimally penetrate the ground and do not damage the roots. The old brick walls, wooden beams and fireplaces were retained.
The projects from the Austin Maynard architectural firm are known for their ability to skillfully create atmospherically different spaces. “King Bill” is no exception in this regard. The bathroom is separated from an open net stretched over the study by a curved sliding wall. After showering, you can push the wall away and let yourself dry in the fresh air on the net in front of the sunny north-facing window.
The special feature of this single-family home, namely the unique corrugated iron facade, sets off the new areas in a unique way. The material used can be bent to achieve the desired curves. In response to the customer's request to integrate more curves into the building, the architects also opted for the curved corrugated iron facadearched interior wallsdecided. The horizontal ribs of the facade have the advantage that they can drain away rainwater.
Sustainability is a priority at the King Bill project. The glass pavilion is deliberately built low so as not to block the sunlight from entering the garden. The aim of all construction work was to be able to benefit from maximum daylight and to optimize solar gain in the cold months. All windows in the building are double glazed and it has been ensured that the strong summer sun does not fall directly on the glass. Thanks to the well-thought-out concept for passive ventilation and shade regulation, the use of mechanical cooling and heating is drastically minimized. A large water tank was buried in the backyard to collect rainwater and reuse it for garden irrigation. Solar panels were installed on the old roof. Austin Maynard Architects sourced local materials wherever possible during the renovation and construction work.
As far as the interior of the house is concerned, it is characterized by many skilfully placed contrasts and an elegant and contemporary furnishing style. Various materials such as wood, steel and modern high-gloss surfaces create exciting combinations that give the interior a personal touch. The bold color and pattern combinations are also impossible to miss. The modern chair design and the pastel colors create an interesting interplay in combination with the earthy colors of the carpet runner. Like the corrugated iron facade, the modern bathroom furniture is characterized by curvy shapes.
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