Petersen D91 bricks deliver a modern twist on an old workers cottage in South Melbourne

What began as a dark and dingy workers cottage on a narrow (4.9m wide) block, built boundary to boundary in South Melbourne, has been immaculately and thoughtfully renovated into a light-filled, functional and seemingly spacious family home. Given the incredibly tight constraints, Blank Canvas Architects relished the design challenge, likening the process to solving a complex Tetris puzzle. Each room strategically placed to maximise space, functionality and flow, fitting seamlessly without wastage but, at the same, time attracting as much light as was humanly possible. 

“I think it’s really important to work closely with the client to translate their brief into not just a house, but a home that reflects their style and what is important to them. In this project, it was really important to the client to capture as much light as possible in the design whilst simultaneously incorporating enough space for a family with two teenage boys. I love a good challenge, and I love what I do,” says Cecilia Yuan Sanders, owner of Blank Canvas Architects. 

And it shows. 

Designing a three bedroom, two-bathroom home, complete with powder room, study, and rear garden studio on this narrow 200m² site is no mean feat. Yet Cecilia has more than delivered, creating a modern interpretation of the existing cottage. While it’s clear what’s new and what’s old, everything sits in perfect harmony; that’s the real talent in Cecilia’s craft. 

For instance, a gabled roof at the rear mimics the hipped roof of the old cottage; the pitched angle and colour are identical, and the material is similar, yet used in a slightly different way. Vertical cladding on the façade presents a modern twist on the traditional horizontal weatherboard. The use of Petersen D91 bricks deliver a modern version of the red brick warehouses prevalent in the surrounding neighbourhood. And the use of dark grey trims connects the new modern extension to its historic origin. 

Cecilia spent some time walking throughout the suburb, immersing herself in its eclectic mix of industrial warehouses, double storey terraces and weatherboard cottages to gain inspiration for the palette. Seeing a real mix, she wanted to keep it simple, but modern:  incorporating shades of warm, neutral grey throughout, starting with the textured Petersen bricks, paired with dark Colourbond Standing Seam and lighter rendered walls. 

“There are a lot of red brick industrial warehouses and tuckpointed Edwardians around, and whilst I like the brick texture, I didn’t want to do another red brick house, so we chose a modern grey instead,” explains Cecilia. 

The client immediately loved and agreed with Cecilia’s suggestion of using Petersen D91 bricks. They loved both the bricks’ texture and tonal variation, and although they explored alternatives, “just in case,” there was nothing that compared. “Everything else was either too flat in texture or too homogenous in tonal quality and lacked expressiveness. You just don’t get that tonal variation and the beautiful difference in colour that you get in Petersen bricks,” recalls Cecilia. 

The bricks are used on the rear garage and studio wall and on the boundary fence, which acts as a feature wall outside the courtyard windows, creating a beautiful backdrop to the landscaping, the bright green foliage popping against the warm grey walls. 

The layout of the home attracts an abundance of light throughout the day, using the strategically- placed courtyard spaces and sky lights. In the hallway light filters in through the two bathrooms, bolstered by a hallway skylight. In the kitchen, a spectacular waterfall skylight drops down as a window looking into a courtyard, turning a once dark and dingy corner into a light-filled open space. And large sliding rear doors open up the back living room to the outdoor terrace and yard, creating a seamless indoor/outdoor feel.  

The studio above the rear garage, which is used as a breakout space for the family’s two teenagers, looks like another miniature house, sitting on the laneway. The owners wanted something nice to look out onto that wasn’t just a garage and the Petersen bricks hits the mark: 

“My client absolutely loves the Petersen bricks, they’re so happy. The bricks provide the perfect backdrop to the garden and creates a gorgeous view from the lounge room to look out onto. Although we discussed a different product for the bathroom/powder courtyards, the client is so thankful I talked them into keeping the Petersen bricks!’” concludes Cecilia. 

This modern renovation has well and truly rejuvenated the old workers cottage, creating a fully functional home that will keep the family in good stead for years to come.  

Architect: Blank Canvas Architects 

Product: Petersen D91 bricks 

Builder: Clancy Constructions 

Photography: Tatjana Plitt