Conceptualised as a silhouette, the extension and renovation of this Preston post war weatherboard, references the industrial context of the area as well as the much-loved family home, and respectfully adds a contemporary chapter. 

 

Silhouette House is an extension and renovation to a much-loved family home in Preston. The project repurposed the original 2-bedroom house and added a split-level extension to the rear. The extension includes a new family entry through a multifunctional link, which sits behind the existing house, connecting the old and the new.  Two new bedrooms upstairs sit atop new amenities, laundry (with sauna) and kids’ bathroom. The focus of the extension is an expansive family kitchen – the anchor point opening to adjacent dining space, outdoor entertaining and the sunken ‘conversation pit’-style lounge.

 

The extension is presented as a shadow behind the existing house. A nod to local streetscape of factories and warehouses, the built form has strong industrial sawtooth geometry. Preston has had big change but we were keen to ensure the old and new were respectful of each other.

 

Inside, however, is a rich and complex combination of the family’s past, honoured by the restoration of the existing house, with a modern and flexible home suitable for the business of a family of 5 now and their anticipated needs into the future.

⁠Architect: Inbetween Architecture
Photographer: Peter Bennetts

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