Designed for a couple and their young children returning to Australia from time spent abroad, the Windsor Terrace by Pleysier Perkins is primed for modern family living.
The young family approached Melbourne-based architecture studio Pleysier Perkins to realise the potential of their new Melbourne home. The narrow, single-fronted Victorian terrace was void of natural light and needed opening up to create flexible and accommodating places for the family to gather.
The Pleysier Perkins team devised an a-typical response for the extension, where new living spaces take shape around three private courtyards. The extension is in constant dialogue with the courtyard garden, letting it become as much a part of the home as any other space. We caught up with Pleysier Perkins studio director Berit Barton to talk us through the new spatial additions and how they’ve made way for a future-focused family home.
Produced in partnership with Gaggenau
The exposed brick wall guides the gentle transition into the new extension from the old original terrace home.
Faced with a small site, every inch of this family home extension had to work hard. Purposeful design gestures lie in the hidden storage and utility areas concealing the minutiae of day-to-day family life and decluttering each space where possible. A defining part of the rear extension is the ‘popped-up roof’ which creates a sense of space in the small footprint, allowing light to gently filter in from above through skylight windows. The skylights work in tandem with the sliding doors opening up to the courtyard, offering light at all times of the day. “The courtyards between living spaces keep the rooms visually connected and make them feel spacious while maintaining a level of zoning,” Berit says.
The extensive glazing also highlights the exposed brick wall in the kitchen and dining area; a considered nod to the original terrace building. When walking down the hallway to the kitchen, the long skylight above the brickwork creates a visually striking play of light and shadow. Berit says the brick wall also speaks to the durable palette throughout the home. “The hardy palette of recycled brick, oak joinery, neutral greys, charred timber and aged brass were chosen to withstand the daily wear and tear of a young family,” Berit says. It’s through this lens Berit also selected polished concrete as the hardwearing flooring of choice throughout.
Pleysier Perkins designed an efficient kitchen space to reflect contemporary family living on a small footprint. The kitchen features top-quality German-made appliances; Gaggenau 200 series Gas cooktop, Gaggenau 200 series Oven, Gaggenau 200 series Combi-microwave oven and Gaggenau Warming Drawer 200 series in Anthracite finish.
The kitchen opens up to the courtyard area creating an optimal entertaining space in the warmer months.
“The hardy pallete of recycled brick, oak joinery, neutral greys, charred timber and aged brass were chosen to withstand the daily wear and tear of a young family.”
– Pleysier Perkins studio director Berit Barton
A key part of the extension is the ‘popped-up roof’ that increases the sense of space in the narrow site from above.
The kitchen is the undeniable hub of this alteration and addition project. Berit says functionality, smart storage solutions and maximising the potential of natural light were all key to ensuring the space really sung. “The clients also wanted a home for entertaining with a seamless flow between indoors and out,” she adds. Pleysier Perkins fused soft surfaces and streamlined shapes in the kitchen, with a slimline brass pendant to complement the brass fixtures.
When it came to appliances in the kitchen, there was no looking past Gaggenau for their reliability and longevity. “I think the modest simplicity in design and the use of high-quality appliances creates a meaningful and functional kitchen area that not only looks lovely but will stand the test of time,” Berit says. “It’s more about quality than quantity; better appliances, better light, better flow, better storage.”
Berit specified the Gaggenau 200 series Gas cooktop, Gaggenau 200 series oven, Gaggenau 200 series Combi-microwave oven and Gaggenau Warming Drawer 200 series in Anthracite finish. These appliances fit right in, sitting flush with the cabinetry as they marry form and function and the ease of entertaining with their cooking capabilities.
Like in the light-filled living areas, Pleysier Perkins also introduced a skylight above the bathroom.
For a family short on time, the Gaggenau Combi-microwave oven promotes fast cooking in a choice of four different heating methods, 15 automatic programmes – and even the option to save individual recipes. The Gaggenau 200 series built-in oven and warming drawer beneath fit right in with the family too; the oven featuring a child lock, safety shut-off and cooled housing with temperature protection.
The Windsor Terrace is a winning combination of natural light, ventilation and functional spaces designed to last. Catering to both children and adults, Pleysier Perkins have redefined an inner-city terrace to become a warm and welcoming home to grow up in, ready to serve the family well into the teenage years.
“The modest simplicity in design and the use of high quality appliances create a meaningful and functional kitchen area that not only looks lovely but will stand the test of time.”
– Pleysier Perkins studio director Berit Barton
Heritage terrace facade
