Principal architects Stephanie Burton and Joseph Lovell of Lovell Burton have successfully transformed a deteriorating 1870s workers' cottage in Carlton into an innovative family home that prioritizes adaptability and community connection. The architect couple chose this particular property not primarily for its existing architectural features, though it possessed certain charming qualities, but rather as an opportunity to embrace a walkable lifestyle that would benefit their growing family.
"Our eldest was about to start primary school, and being immersed in this community was important to how our family functions on many levels," explains Stephanie Burton. The historic house, originally built in the 1870s, had fallen into significant disrepair over the decades following numerous modifications that resulted in a haphazard arrangement of additions connecting the original dwelling to the outhouse.
Faced with the uncertainty of how their family life would evolve as their young children grew into teenagers and eventually adults, the architects developed a unique design philosophy. "Not knowing how our life would evolve with young kids moving into teens and adulthood, we began with this idea of loose fit, long life," Stephanie notes regarding their self-imposed design brief. "For us, this was about loosely demarcating space as a way of embedding flexibility into the design that could adapt with our family through the seasonal patterns that occur over the year, but also in the longer term as the family evolves."
The renovation process involved removing a series of existing lean-to structures to make way for a carefully planned patchwork of multi-purpose spaces. The architects placed special emphasis on improving three key elements: ventilation, natural light, and opportunities for social connection throughout the home. At the front of the cottage, they preserved the original four-room footprint, which now serves various functions including bedrooms, a study area, and a bathroom.
A central courtyard features a walkway that leads into the newly constructed living pavilion, which represents the heart of the home's transformation. This pavilion includes a kitchen on the ground level and an open mezzanine level above, designed to accommodate sleeping arrangements, serve as a secondary retreat space, or fulfill any other needs the family may have as their children mature into teenagers. The design incorporates a series of 3.2-meter-tall pivot glass doors and a large skillion roof that creates an impressive soaring internal volume, effectively capturing sunlight and providing garden views from both ends of the addition.
The construction details reflect both sustainability and connection to the site's history. The rustic walls feature recycled bricks salvaged from the demolished structures that previously occupied the site. Joinery elements throughout the project are intentionally sparse and conceived as flexible pieces of furniture that can be moved and adapted to accommodate potential future uses as the family's needs change over time.
The outdoor spaces received equal attention in the renovation process. The architects removed the rear carport and replaced it with an outdoor dining area, complete with a large sliding gate that opens the entire site to the rear laneway, further emphasizing the connection between private and public spaces. This modification allows the family to extend their living area beyond the traditional boundaries of their property.
This project marked the first time the architects had completed a renovation for themselves, presenting unique challenges that differed from typical client relationships. According to Stephanie, the greatest challenge was ultimately combining their individual ideas about what constitutes a proper home and deciding what elements were most important to them as a functioning family unit.
The comprehensive reworking of the cottage has successfully refocused the home to engage more actively with the immediate community surrounding it. "The reworking of the cottage has refocused the home to engage outwardly into the immediate community," Stephanie explains. "Veranda spaces to the front and rear, coupled with permeable fence details encourage our family to utilize the street and laneways as an extension of our living space."
The final result creates a home that mirrors the community-oriented lifestyle typical of Carlton residents. Just as many Carlton locals often gather on central nature strips during sunny days, this renovated cottage now fosters enjoyable moments of connection both among family members and with their wider neighborhood, successfully achieving the architects' goal of creating a flexible, community-integrated family home.
