Atop A Violin Shop by Tsai Design & Sustainable Homes Melbourne
Perched above a violin shop in Melbourne’s Collingwood is a space converted into a warm and light home with a sustainable focus.
Photography: Tess Kelly
Tsai Design and Sustainable Homes Melbourne have joined forces to transform what was once a dark and cramped Victorian terrace into an indoor-outdoor space above a violin store in inner-city Collingwood. Home to owners who operate the store downstairs and live upstairs, the focus for the redesign was to open up the closed off spaces and create a bright and sanctuary-like home.
For the renovation, Tsai Design extended the home to feature more defined zones, as well as three new outdoor spaces. The main living zones upstairs include the living space, bedroom and an open kitchen. The outdoor spaces include three decks; a large outdoor space for entertaining, as well as two smaller decks off the main and guest bedroom. The existing first floor with its 3.2-metre-high ceilings has become the open living and entertaining area, while the bedrooms and bathrooms have been relocated away from the street to a modern rear extension.
A main focus is the addition of a secondary open stairwell, “To address the space shading the full length of the building to the north, we overhauled the central stairwell, introducing a translucent roof that would flood the living space with light and warmth,” says Jack Chen, Director at Tsai Design. The new design also introduced sustainable measures such as natural and recycled materials which feature in the living space and kitchen, as well as ready to use solar panels. The upstairs living spaces are now a world away from the hustle and bustle of the world downstairs - a haven of light and warmth.
The existing first floor with its 3.2 metre ceiling was transformed into the living and entertaining spaces. Photo - Tess Kelly.
The new staircase includes a lightwell which lets in an abundance of natural light into the spaces. Photo - Tess Kelly.
“Bringing light to the heart of the home would be central to the new design’s success. ”
The light-filled and open plan living and entertaining space includes warm timber finishes and a feature fireplace. Photo - Tess Kelly.
Simple open shelving is a feature in the open-plan living space. Photo - Tess Kelly.
The home features natural and sustainable materials throughout, a strong design focus for Sustainable Homes Melbourne. Photo - Tess Kelly.
“It’s rare for buildings of this type to enjoy access to the outdoors, so we added a green wall and transparent roofing to the stairs, making it feel more like a well-lit courtyard than a threshold between business and home. ”
Simplicity reigns supreme in the warm and tactile kitchen. Photo - Tess Kelly.
The main bedroom with its new outdoor space addition, one of three added to the redesign. Photo - Tess Kelly.
The kitchen features pistachio cabinetry and open shelving. Photo - Tess Kelly.
The terrace addition from the back lane. Photo - Tess Kelly.
The upper level roof deck with views across the Collingwood inner-city skyline. Photo - Tess Kelly.