10 Fold House by Timmins + Whyte
Designed by Timmins + Whyte, 10 Fold House is an Edwardian home with a ‘folding’ roof, which maximises natural light and reflects the pattern of neighbouring homes.
Words: Hande Renshaw | Photography: Peter Bennetts
The living room corner banquette seating creates a compact and functional dining zone. Artwork, Two Boats by Margie Sheppard. Photo: Peter Bennetts
10 Fold House had seen numerous renovations before Timmins + Whyte were engaged to transform the Edwardian home in Abbotsford, Victoria.
Previous renovations had completely altered the home, removing many of its original heritage details in the process, and disregarding the lack of natural light in the spaces.
Timmins+ Whyte completely rebuilt the oldest rooms for modern sustainability standards, while adding a new extension with an innovative ‘folding’ roof addressing both the pattern of the street and letting in maximum natural light.
‘The home’s original footprint has been observed, sensitively acknowledging its neighbouring architectural history and reflecting the pattern of the street – 10 folds in the roof serve to draw in light, while also minimising bulk to the eastern neighbour and rising up to the large two-storey western neighbour,’ says Sally Timmins.
The renovation and two story extension included a new roof featuring 10 individual folds, which draws light right into the centre of the house — through the innovative ‘folding’ roof there is little to no need for artificial lighting during the day. The roof’s form also minimises bulk to the eastern neighbour, rising up to the large two-storey western neighbour.
‘Throughout, the space creates its own sense of expansion and compression – from intimate dining to the towering ceiling suspended over a wall of handpicked art,’ Sally explains. ‘The design further opens the kitchen at the rear to a now private garden, where neighbours’ houses are unseen, yet their mature trees including a palm and Jacaranda become part of our client’s seasonal experience of their own garden.’
The original plan was to retain at least the front room of the existing house but due its state and previous intervention, the architects rebuilt it in the same footprint and dimensions. This became a multi-use room with a guest room, study and secondary living space. There is a bathroom and European laundry downstairs – the kitchen and dining space also offers lounging activity with the built-in banquette seating and sofa. The house uses cross-ventilation, solar panels and water tanks for garden irrigation.
‘True to our design philosophy, this is a considered and crafted home, improving living for our clients ten fold,’ says Sally.
Each space is filled with natural daylight. Artwork, Two Boats by Margie Sheppard. Photo: Peter Bennetts
‘We kept the pallete quite neutral with warm pink tones taken from the existing original heritage brick wall,’ says Sally Timmins. Photo: Peter Bennetts
“Throughout, the space creates its own sense of expansion and compression.”
‘True to our design philosophy, this is a considered and crafted home, improving living for our clients ten fold,’ says Sally Timmins. Photo: Peter Bennetts
‘The footprint oh the home is skinny however due to the ceiling heights the spaces feel generous and spacious,’ says Sally Timmins. Artwork by Nycki Rozakeas. Photo: Peter Bennetts
The boundary wall features exposed brick. Photo: Peter Bennetts
‘The roof expands and contracts the spaces including the main bedroom facing the street upstairs and the rear dining and kitchen space,’ says Sally Timmins. Photo: Peter Bennetts
Contemporary details have been added to the Edwardian cottage. Photo: Peter Bennetts
Sitting quietly as a single fronted Edwardian in Abbotsford, Melbourne, the home’s original footprint has been observed. Photo: Peter Bennetts