Combining architectural styles isn’t new; we’ve seen it many times before. However, the difference with Autumn House is that it embraces three distinct styles of architecture, not trying to blend them, but instead, celebrating their differences. The original Victorian terrace was owned and lived in by architect Mike Jorgensen. In the ’80s, Jorgensen undertook extensive reconfigurations and renovations on the property. When he passed in 2017, the current homeowners purchased the property. They then commissioned Studio Bright with the task of sympathetically balancing the architecture of the Victorian and Jorgensen additions, while creating a functional home for a young family. As a result, Autumn House effectively became two restorations and one addition.
A Contemporary Family Home with Rich History
“The brief was to provide a contemporary family home with rooms and spaces sited in and around existing buildings, the mature elm tree, and providing a variety of intertwined garden spaces for the twin girls to explore and play,” says Melissa Bright, director of Studio Bright.
Autumn House has three parts: the original Victorian, the Jorgensen addition, and the new contemporary works. Firstly, the body of work undertaken by Studio Bright involved the restoration of the Victorian front and hallway. This included bringing archways and cornices back to their former glory. Additionally, they added some playful detailing to suggest a modern intervention. As a result, the space has been reconceived as night-time spaces, now featuring two kids’ bedrooms, a shared bathroom, a small laundry, and an informal living area.
A Bold Fusion of Old and New
The Jorgensen renovation was respectfully kept intact, honouring its rich material palette. Meanwhile, the new, north-facing, two-storey extension celebrates the mature elm tree at its heart. This “unapologetically contemporary” space now houses the functional aspects of a family home, including living, kitchen, and dining areas. Additionally, it features an activity space with a private study, bike room, and services shed. On the upper level, you’ll find the master bedroom, ensuite, and a rooftop deck.
“One of the most complex design challenges was the marrying of the Victorian, the Jorgensen addition and the new extension. Many discussions were had on the minutiae of details and junctions — where to stop and start a period skirt and how to transition the Victorian. Small touches assume a critical role in clarifying the right amount of contemporaneity balanced alongside the desire to respect and celebrate the heritage of the Victorian and Jorgensen work beforehand,” says Melissa.
Designing with Nature and Privacy in Mind
The internal palette of Autumn House thoughtfully responds to its existing buildings and landscape. Specifically, colours and materials are inspired by the much-loved elm tree, as well as the playful bright greens, rich exposed timbers, and red-brick flooring of the ’80s Jorgensen extension. Meanwhile, the home’s exterior expression takes on a whole new form with a structural mesh facade. “Composed of a delicate framework of steel, atop a perimeter garden and finished with an expanded steel mesh screen,” the facade appears as a floating veil—solid yet transparent—cocooning the master suite inside. Adorned with various species of climbers, this mesh screen will, in time, become a wall of lush greenery, offering privacy for the family and creating a welcome sight in its urban context.
“In such a gritty laneway environment, it’s so nice to see the contrast on the inside — the house as an inner-city garden retreat … we think that even in tight urban areas, there is an opportunity for lots of green, this benefit going beyond just this family but as an offering to the neighbourhood and the lane,” says Melissa.
