Gallery

Description

Located in a tight single lane street in South Melbourne the original dilapidated one bedroom workman’s cottage built in the 1880s formed the initial brief for architect’s/owner builders Bruno Mendes and Amy Muir. To pursue the desire to construct using one’s own hands formed a very important part of the brief. Joe Mendes who manages steel fabrication for a large construction company formed the final link. The following 3 and a half years of demolition, excavation and construction would be referred to as “the daddy Mendes apprenticeship”. While working full time in practice the new house was constructed on weekends. This formed the construction program and associated cash flow.

The 93m2 site adjoined to the north and south neighbouring properties and contained by a rear property, called for access to natural light and a view beyond. Flanked by a two storey modernist red brick façade and a ornamented timber cottage to the south, Law Street House became the fourth little “pig” and comprises two bedrooms, two bathrooms, one study, an open plan living room and a storage area, carefully crafted into 115m2. The house is divided into two living zones with the Level 1 gallery study forming the in-between space. Constructed from steel plates, the façade adopts a condition of blankness concealing the second storey within the adjusted roof pitch mimicking the form of the site’s former cottage. A “draw bridge” to the front window provides privacy and curates light to the front bedroom providing a signal of occupation to the house beyond.

Upon entry the double height corridor directs the gaze through the full length skylight to capture a view of the existing palm tree. The inversion of the enclosed cottage corridor is adopted in order to maximise the penetration of natural light to the interior and provide an aspect ‘out’ of the tight site. Sky becomes an important distraction for the sight. The white walls play host to the passage of light that dances across the interior as the day passes patterning the walls as it moves. A memory of the original lean roof lines ripple across the underside of Level 1, defining the building’s “section”. The rear of the house forms a continuation of the roof line folding to the south. The rear façade to the east is tilted ensuring that no additional overshadowing to the neighbouring property. Internally the wall is pleated incorporating the heating panel and concealed blind to the window on Level 1.

Steel construction was adopted to combat the tight site and aggressive termites. Windows, doors, stairs and joinery have been fabricated from steel puncturing the white interior. Tallow wood flooring was selected given that it does not suit the selective pallet of the termite. The flooring folds through the space and up the walls providing a robust skirting.

Biography

Muir Mendes, a Melbourne based architectural practice, was established in 2011. Law Street House forms the practices first project which recently won a Victorian Architecture Award in the New Residential category. Muir Mendes brings together the combined experiences from both Amy Muir and Bruno Mendes who have collectively gained over 25 years of experience in high end residential, multi residential, commercial, sporting facilities, public and institutional work.

There is a clear predilection that each project, each brief, each site brings challenges which form the framework and fabric for the development and resolution of strong architectural responses. Having both studied and taught at RMIT University, the challenge and joy of testing new concepts is always at the forefront when conceiving and designing projects.