In Melbourne, Robson Rak Architects needed to refashion a historical cottage and stable building into a new family residence. They did so by connecting the two buildings with an intervening, brick-and-glass addition and a private, interior courtyard.

The 302-square-meter lot started life as the cornerstone of the local dairy operation in the late 1800s, with a brick stable and a small manager’s cottage separated by green space. Then, in the mid-1970s, a vintage car collector bought the site, using the stables as a garage, where Formula One world champions signed their names on the walls with black spray paint.

When new owners bought the property and asked Robson Rak Architects to convert the site into a gracious family home for easy entertaining, the firm’s challenge was linking the two historic structures together to create a cohesive interior experience. “The client loved the old stables and history associated with it. They were up for the challenge it would be to unify it into one home,” says Chris Rak, principal interior architect, and Kathryn Robson, principal architect.

Before: Cottage Exterior

After: Cottage Exterior

“Due to very strict heritage requirements, the stables, the cottage, and the new infill building had to be clearly distinguished to outline the different parts of the building and the evolution of time,” says the firm.

To start, this meant reinstating the structural integrity of the two older buildings. For instance, the late-1800s, Victorian-style cottage was “in such bad condition that we had to rebuild most of it,” says the firm. The cottage previously had three bedrooms and one bathroom, and the firm reorganized the interior plan to accommodate a living room and library, as well as a private study and powder room.

After: Cottage Interior

“The home was always intended to be a sophisticated space with various areas for entertainment and to display the [owner’s] art collection,” says the firm. To achieve that, the firm chose a predominantly neutral material palette for the interiors. Floors are a pale-toned American oak and limestone; walls and built-in cabinetry also embrace paler shades. Against that backdrop, the bright artwork and select furnishings bring warmth and personality.

Before: Addition Exterior

After: Addition Exterior

“The linking infill building had to have a different form and style to both the stables and the cottage, and our intention was that the contemporary, modest, brick-and-glass form best linked the two other styles,” says the firm. The addition contains the kitchen, dining room, an internal courtyard, as well as a dramatic, glass-enclosed stairwell, which leads up to a second-floor master suite and connects to bedrooms in the rehabilitated stables. There is also a basement level and rooftop terrace.

After: Addition Interior

Throughout the design, Robson Rak wove in thoughtful references to the site’s history in understated and subtle ways. For instance, the handrail on the staircase is composed of leather stitched over painted steel, in a nod to the steering wheels found in race cars. The firm also retained the dramatic interior ceiling pitch in the stable building. “It allows you to appreciate that there were very tall stables there with a pitched roof,” they say.

Before: Stables Exterior

After: Stables Exterior

Before: Stables Interior

After: Stables Interior

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Project Credits:

Architecture: Robson Rak Architects / @robsonrakarchitects

Builder: Krongold Group

Structural Engineer: Meyer Consulting

Lighting Design: Robson Rak Architects

Interior Design: Robson Rak Architects

Cabinetry Design: Robson Rak Architects

Cabinetry Manufacturer/Installation: COS Interiors

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Before & After: A Derelict Cottage and Dairy Stable Become a Sleek Family Compound