Conversion of a Melbourne apartment building by Splinter Society

"Design is primarily a process of reduction so that the character of the original building can emerge," say the architects of Australian firm Splinter Society. In renovating a family home in Melbourne, they exposed old structures and demonstrated the courage to leave gaps.

by Nina C. Müller, 04/20/2021

Once a factory building, later separate condominiums - and now a house for a young family: Asha Nicholas and Chris Stanley from the architecture firm Splinter Society and their clients wanted to preserve the changeable history and industrial atmosphere of the existing Melbourne building, which was erected at the end of the 19th century.

Three-quarters full
A wall that once separated the two halves of the apartment still forms a vertical dividing line within the three-story building. This division, the architect duo explains, creates a chimney-like void that they used as a residential center.

This high, open-topped space represents about a quarter of the total volume. This creates a "dramatic void that connects the three floors and the entrance," says the pair of Australian architects. In concrete terms, this means a foyer with nine-meter-high ceilings, around which living, dining and sleeping rooms are distributed, as are the bathrooms and several terraces. A staircase attached to the side connects the levels, while on the street side a floor-to-ceiling window area brings daylight into the interior, which is reflected by a rear cladding of raw steel sheet.

Intentionally imperfect
"The stair is based on the concept of a fire escape, which is structurally made of steel and fluted glass," Asha Nicholas and Chris Stanley explain. It provides a contemporary contrast to the preserved original materials. A stately entry door was created from boards left over from the remodeling process. And other old elements - such as a wood ceiling on the first floor, fireplaces and arched openings - still remain.

However, decisive for the industrial heritage was, above all, the exposure of the original walls. "Wherever possible, the imperfection of the walls is celebrated as an indication of their history," says the architect couple, who only partially glazed them to close gaps between the stones. In this way, the old and new layers should remain clearly recognizable.

The whole story
"Balancing the airy atrium, the living rooms are much more intimate and feature subtle colors, textures and soft upholstered furniture," says the duo, who still wanted to emphasize the industrial character of the existing building in the living area. Black walls, fronts and tiles alternate with glossy or wooden surfaces in the furniture, and their restraint draws the eye to the townhouse's materials, which are steeped in history.

"The main goal of the project is to exploit its existing potential rather than replace it with something entirely new," explain Asha Nicholas and Chris Stanley. Thus, using the means of reduction - in terms of color, space and material - Splinter Society succeeds in creating a full spatial experience that still tells the whole story of the old building.

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