Mansard House by Studio Bright
Honouring the distinct architecture of its 1970s roots, Studio Bright respectfully reimagines Mansard House in Kew, Melbourne.
WORDS Hande Renshaw PHOTOS Rory Gardiner ARCHITECT Studio Bright BUILD ProvanBuilt LANDSCAPE DESIGN Sam Egan Gardens
The interior palette features warm tones and textures—a nostalgic nod to the original 70’s interior.
Mansard House, by Studio Bright, is in the Melbourne suburb of Kew.
The original 1970s exterior was untouched and respectfully preserved.
The bluestone flooring was reminiscent of the existing slate tiles that were in parts of the original house, while Victorian Ash boards have been used for the ceiling.
Steel-framed windows in the living space enhance the panoramic natural views.
In the kitchen—deep-green marble against the walnut veneer accentuates the warmth of the bricks.
The materiality within the home is a symphony of simplicity and elegance.
“Our clients intend aging at home and wish for the house to throw its arms out to extended family. Untangling the order of rooms and paths of access to promote this desire required extensive internal remodelling.”
The dialogue between old and new plays out seamlessly thought out the home.
The use of fine steel framed windows connect the home into its surrounding landscape.
Named after the home’s mossy-slate mansard roof, minimal changes were made to the external structure.
Across Australia, homes that were built in the 1970s were typically demolished, making way for the next big thing in architecture and design. Luckily, Mansard House is no such dwelling, standing proudly in the Melbourne of Kew, the house has been sympathetically reimagined by Studio Bright.
Tucked within the sprawling grassy landscape of Kew, Mansard House blends 1970s nostalgia with updated modern elements. The design is a delicate balance between honouring the original home and embracing a mindful transformation.
‘While the original house is not a recognised piece of architecture, Mansard House is readily identifiable as a quintessential example from its time and deserving of retention for its time-marking contribution to growing a richly textured city that values its past,’ shares Studio Bright.
Mansard House takes it name from its distinctive mossy-slate mansard roof—while the exterior has been mostly untouched, the interiors were the primary focus for the renovation.
The interior layout had an incredibly questionable configuration; an overly defensive attitude to the street, weak visual connection to adjoining parkland and spatial clarity blurred over time by some ill-considered interventions, all detracted from its living amenity and therefore the potency of its qualities.
‘Our clients intend aging at home and wish for the house to throw its arms out to extended family. Untangling the order of rooms and paths of access to promote this desire required extensive internal remodelling,’ says Studio Bright.
The redesign internally included removing certain walls, creating an openness that connect the interior spaces with the beautiful landscape beyond the perimeter of the home.
The interior finishes palette is a richly coloured and texturally intense interpretation of the original 70’s interior. ‘Materials were selected for their raw and inherent beauty, and the moody palette uses texture and grain that sits well next to the original brown brick,’ Studio Bright says.
The design conversation between old and new unfolds naturally throughout Mansard House, creating a reimagined home that honours its history, while welcoming its owners’ tomorrow.