An ideal city fringe location and charming corner site were design drawcards for an architectural extension by Melbourne practice Templeton Architecture.
Rewriting the narrative for an original Victorian worker’s cottage in South Melbourne enabled architect Emma Templeton and her team to make more from less, and craft a home that has evolved to accommodate the family of three that lives there.
Home to fashion designer Penelope Loorham (of Australian label Perri Cutten), her partner, their teenage son, and British short-hair cat Luna from which the project takes its name, the residence builds a beautiful synergy between architecture and European style with the help of a warm and robust material palette.
As part of our ‘Design Deconstructed’ film series, we take an exclusive look at the Luna Residence. Emma unveils the newly expansive design resolve and how the modest urban footprint was maximised to envelop a sense of calm and escape.
In partnership with Royal Oak Floors
Tonal variations and natural materials underscore the heritage charm of the rear extension. Royal Oak Floors’ chevron, timber floorboard in Toasted Oak offer a foundational softness throughout the new addition.
As an established practice centred on sensitive heritage revivals, considerate new builds, and inventive alterations and additions projects, Emma and her team have a widely appreciated portfolio of residential projects that capture her trademark, timeless design solutions.
It was no surprise then that Emma was enlisted by Penelope to envision a new chapter for this Victorian residence nestled within South Melbourne’s wide and leafy streets. “The site, formerly a Victorian corner store, is a testament to the suburb’s evolution from a working-class district into a more residential area. It was important that the building’s next layer of architecture did not diminish the preceding historical layers,” Emma says.
"It now packs a big punch in terms of its light, and its drama and the warmth of timber was really appealing for that reason,"
– Architect emma templeton
The surrounding landscape in this area between Amsterdam and the coast has a distinct sense of “silence” that extends to the home’s architecture.
The existing single-story residence was conservative in scale. Featuring simple heritage elements, such as cornices and parapets, the preservation of the historic facade and the retention of the four front rooms became a priority. The new two-story extension aimed to optimise the footprint while demonstrating a commitment to respecting the heritage value that this building contributes to the surrounding neighbourhood.
Stepping in through the front door directly from the street level, the corridor immediately unfolds to the light-filled renovation beyond. Throughout the renovation, Emma considered the relationship between the old and new “Rather than incorporating unnecessary details, we aimed to craft refined and calm spaces. The limited palette of natural materials and neutral tones were selected as they sit beautifully against the verdant garden that surrounds the home and lend the spaces a restorative quality,” Emma says.
Connecting the rear ground floor to the upper level is a ribboning staircase that draws guests upwards and simultaneously floods the surrounding space with natural light. While the ground floor houses three bedrooms, two bathrooms, an open kitchen and dining space, and an enclosed courtyard, the upper level occupies a teenage retreat with a bedroom, bathroom, living space, study, and secondary enclosed courtyard. “This project allowed the clients to redefine the way they live in the space. The home has given them the next chapter of their lives based on the way we’ve structured the hierarchy of rooms,” Emma says.
A roll call of tonal variations, soft hues, and natural materials underscore the heritage charm of the worker’s cottage contemporary rear addition. “Our palette is often based in quite warm, comforting, and natural tones; they are very comfortable to live in and allow for the client’s personality to dress it differently,” she says. The subtle choice of finishes joining this home together makes the spaces feel harmonious. “One of the first things we needed to consider was the floors. What we wanted was it to be a point of difference because it was clearly the new section of the house, but the tone needed to sit comfortably with the original Baltic pine (of the original home), and Royal Oak Floors colours made that possible”.
“The chevron floorboards elevate the spaces and give it an elegance and a grace that is representative of the client and the type of spaces we were trying to create,”
– Architect emma templeton
Connecting the rear ground floor to the upper level is a ribboning staircase. The timber, chevron flooring from Royal Oak Floors ties the upper and ground floors seamlessly together.
Emma and her client opted for the Toasted Oak timber floorboards from Royal Oak Floors in a chevron pattern. “The chevron floorboards elevate the spaces and give it an elegance and a grace that is representative of the client and the type of spaces we were trying to create,” she says. While the house is confined within a modest footprint, “It now packs a big punch in terms of its light, and its drama and the warmth of timber was really appealing for that reason,” Emma adds.
Connected by an elegant palette, heritage charm, and sculptural touchpoints, Luna Residence is a hidden gem that fuses family functionality with soft sophistication. The renovated home offers Penelope and her family an urban sanctuary. “You are greeted by that feeling that once you close the front door behind you, you can turn your back on your day,” Emma reflects.
