In the vibrant Melbourne suburb of Thornbury, a modest weatherboard bungalow has undergone a sensitive yet transformative heritage overlay renovation by architecture studio Healy Ryan. Faced with an uninspiring rear addition and a disconnect from its north-facing garden, the brief called for a young family home that prioritized connection, light, and spatial efficiency within strict heritage constraints. The resulting Thornbury House is a masterclass in thoughtful contemporary architecture respecting its past.
The solution was elegantly direct: preserve the charming, street-facing facade with its stained-glass windows and internal timber detailing untouched, while completely reimagining the rear. Healy Ryan conceived a new gabled extension that precisely traces the original roofline – “like a new extrusion from an old mould.” This architectural continuity ensures the modern addition feels intrinsically linked to the heritage bungalow, creating a unified form that respects the streetscape while boldly looking inward.
Remarkably, the new footprint addition totals just 25 square meters. Achieving a sense of spaciousness within this compact volume demanded efficient spatial planning. Healy Ryan delivered, creating open-plan living areas that flow seamlessly. High raked ceilings in the kitchen, living, and dining zones introduce dramatic volume and openness, contrasting with the tightly planned service cores (bathroom, laundry, powder room). The effect is a home that feels significantly larger than its modest extension suggests.
Central to the design is the renewed connection to landscape. A large north-facing opening floods the main living space with light and visually links it to the rear garden. Strategic glazing elsewhere enhances the natural light experience: a translucent polycarbonate highlight window to the south bathes the interior in a soft glow, a slot window above the dining area frames views of the sky, and another window near living room shelving captures the warm afternoon sun. This orchestration creates dynamic interior light qualities throughout the day.
A particularly ingenious move addresses the children’s bedrooms. Healy Ryan inserted a small, light-filled courtyard acting as a gentle divider between the two rooms. Connected by a playful timber bridge, this shared outdoor space serves as both a peaceful retreat and a point of interaction, fostering connection and independence. Crucially, this courtyard also transforms the previously dark entrance hallway into a bright, welcoming passage.
Thornbury House by Healy Ryan transcends a simple addition. It’s a demonstration of how Melbourne architecture can honour heritage constraints while embracing modern family life. By focusing on fundamental qualities of dwelling – simplicity, abundant natural light, a deep connection to landscape, and clever spatial planning – the studio has created a home that feels both respectful of its origins and effortlessly contemporary, proving that impactful residential design doesn’t require grand gestures, but rather thoughtful, light-filled connections.