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Houzz Tour: From Olden Church to Soaring Modern Marvel
Pray join us on this trip through an incredible home in Melbourne that's a real sanctuary
Houzz Editorial Staff; writer, musician, father and husband.
Houzz Editorial Staff; writer, musician, father and husband. More »
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When an 1892 Anglican church outside Melbourne, Australia, came on the market, husband-and-wife architects Dominic and Marie Bagnato jumped at the chance to save the weatherboarded structure from being bought and turned into a commercial office space. With old churches like it becoming a rarity in the area — the smallish designs can't support growing congregations, so churchgoers are consolidating into larger spaces — the couple decided that converting the building into an awe-inspiring modern home would help ensure its staying power. “We wanted to preserve the architecture and retain the look but bring it to a 21st-century house on the inside,” Marie says.
Of course, adding a little style didn't hurt, either. Since it was listed as a heritage site, the architects could do only so much to the existing structure. So they created a mezzanine with two bedrooms and a rumpus room in the old church structure and added a new modern building with a plush master suite, ramping up the square footage to accommodate the current occupants: a doctor, his wife and their six kids.
With the home's hundred-year-old trusses and ceiling, and high-end decor, being inside it today is nearly a religious experience.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 8
Location: Moonee Ponds neighborhood of Melbourne, Australia
Size: 5,274 square feet; 4 or 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Budget: $1.55 million
Of course, adding a little style didn't hurt, either. Since it was listed as a heritage site, the architects could do only so much to the existing structure. So they created a mezzanine with two bedrooms and a rumpus room in the old church structure and added a new modern building with a plush master suite, ramping up the square footage to accommodate the current occupants: a doctor, his wife and their six kids.
With the home's hundred-year-old trusses and ceiling, and high-end decor, being inside it today is nearly a religious experience.
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A family of 8
Location: Moonee Ponds neighborhood of Melbourne, Australia
Size: 5,274 square feet; 4 or 5 bedrooms, 5 bathrooms
Budget: $1.55 million
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| It was all about highlighting the void in the living room. The monolithic fireplace soars up to 6 1/2 meters (a little more than 21 feet). The standard ceiling height in Australia is half that. “It’s quite imposing when you’re standing there,” Marie Bagnato says. The chimney has a black marble hearth and a plaster finish, and connects to the ceiling and timber trusses, both a hundred years old. Leaving the limestone floor “lumpy and bumpy,” Bagnato says, and adding an acid-washed finish, helped make the surface appear aged. |
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| Since it was a very insular building, the architect worked to connect the space to the backyard. Large windows now open to the swimming pool and picturesque Moonee Valley. The larger window is meant to be a modern interpretation of a Gothic window. “It makes the space stunning back there,” Bagnato says. Gold is a theme throughout the house. The color reminds Bagnato of old churches, something she says she subconsciously thought of during the design. Gold comes up in the multicylindered chandelier, which is meant to emulate organ pipes. |
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| Since this is a heritage-listed building, the architects retained all the original exterior features on the church side, including the weatherboard, Gothic windows and cloverleaf vent. “To be transparent, we wanted to highlight the building, not destroy the facade,” Bagnato says. A black stairwell links the church to the new modern building, which contains the master bedroom. |
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| The designer wanted the media lounge in the church building to have a completely different vibe from the other living areas. Whereas the living room is open and full of light, this space is intimate and moody, with gray walls, alligator-skin-recalling wallpaper, velvety sofas and carpeting, and small surprises of gold. “I wanted it to feel quite lush and over the top. It’s almost like a foyer to a hotel,” Bagnato says. “It’s where you go with friends.” All furniture: Coco Republic |
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Black and gold continue in this sitting room, which was once the original entry to the church. It now links to the media lounge, with windows that look to a garden.
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| Calacatta marble runs throughout the kitchen, including on the island. The area connects with the dining room and spills out to the living room. |
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| A freestanding Caroma Noir bathtub dominates the master bathroom. The materials found throughout the rest of the house repeat in this space. The black Nero Tempest marble found around the fireplace comes up here as an imposing wall; acid-washed Chiampo limestone similar to that in the living room adorns the floor, only here it has a more honed, smoother finish. The light fixtures glow amber when lit, complementing the gold tones in the marble. |
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| This staircase is the link between the old and new building. It leads up to the bedrooms and features partially exposed stained hardwood treads for a floating effect. |
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| The original Gothic windows split the floor levels in the two church bedrooms. An original truss cuts a striking scene, as does a mirror near the ceiling above the bed that makes the hundred-year-old wood roof appear to hover. |
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| This al fresco seating area is underneath a portion of the new building that links the two structures. The cabinetry around the stainless steel barbecue and sink is recycled timber. |
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| Glass walls fuse old and new, indoors and out, connecting the house to the pool area and the Moonee Valley beyond. |
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| The mezzanine looks over the living room void, aided by a glass balustrade. The old trusses jut into the space, keeping the rhythm of the old structure. The architect wanted the staircase, which leads to an attic-type space, to feel sculptural but not fight the old building design. |
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| The homeowners are converting the attic-type space with views of Moonee Valley into a loft bedroom for two of their children. A kitchenette and powder room are in back. |
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| The owners wanted the master bedroom to feel a bit like a plush hotel room. Sheer black curtains, charcoal wallpaper and an artichoke-recalling light add to this effect. |
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| The ceiling in the wine cellar is recycled timber. The backsplash is backlit onyx. Tell us: Do you live in a remodeled church building? We'd love to see a photo. |
Ideabook published on Feb. 24, 2013.
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I thank all you wonderful people for the lovely comments you have posted.
Kind regards,
Dominic Bagnato architect.
I have to say this church transformation is spectacular....
I live in a small town with lots of old Victorian homes from the turn of the century, and I had the opportunity to tour one that had its own private church. It was amazing… high peaked ceilings and a massive pipe organ.
The owners used it for storage, if you can believe it.
Here’s a link to the house:
http://wp.me/p36IiD-jJ
Blessings to you!
It's is cool. Not sure if it would appeal to the masses but so what..
How did you get a lender to go along with your vision?
this is wonderful
And I really hope that recycled timber was used in more than just two places. Cabinetry around a barbie the size of my kitchen? Oh well done! That will add to your eco-cred for sure guys. Please tell me that there was a bit more than just that and a wall in a wine cellar. :(
As an example of something I think has been handled slightly better (although I still can't say I'm a fan), try this one:
http://www.realestateview.com.au/Real-Estate/70-clunes-road-creswick/Property-Details-buy-residential-4663343.html
It's got many similar issues to this monstrosity, but I think handles what to do with the huge void in the centre of the space better.
Just for once, I'd like to see a church conversion that doesn't involve putting floors across windows at some level. I realise that's a difficult task, but it's graceless, and I think defeats the pupose of such soaring openings to break them up like that.
Best,
Jill@DWR
The cut in half window in the first bedroom looks like a doorway for hobbits to the outside.
I would love to thank everyone that took the time to add such wonderful comments about our project, the church conversion. I cant believe how generous you have been with your compliments they are really appreciated. I also really appreciate some of the negative comments because you can always improve and learn from others and its great that everyone has an opinion. That's what makes architecture so stimulating ,like art, its very personal and can be contraversonal. I have had requests to show the before photos of the transformation. They were taken on a traditional camera. Once we work out how to down load then we will provide them for all to see.
Kind regards,
Dominic Bagnato
I have been trying to get in touch with you after seeing this for a similar project. What is the best way to reach you?
You can contact me by email as it would be easier because of the time difference from the USA & Australia.
My email address is: dominic@bagnatoarchitecture.com.au
Regards,
Dominic
I tried that one and I keep getting a delivery error. Is there another one I could try?
Hi, The wall behind the bath tub is made of marble stone it is called "NERO TEMPESTA"
It was installed as two slabs on top of each other. Each slab is 2.0m wide x 1.35m high.
Regards,
Dominic Bagnato
One commenter said it does not flow. It is not meant to. It is meant to show the old and the new without destroying the history. It's either all old and dismal or all new and you lose the heritage!
Great design and compatibilty with materials. One thing though, I don't like the windows which show the street at night! Often people fail to go outside and look from different vantage points into the house lit at night. You will be surprised how you can see in via a type of parallex error!
Thank you for your comments. During thev1980's i was at high school dreaming of becoming an architect, I was going to change the world and make my mark. Through the early 1990's I completed my university degree and eager to do my own thing I started my own architectural practice.i quickly saw how difficult it was to create good architecture. Too many developers were knocking down period homes and replacing them with non descript buildings and trying to convince them was fruitless. So I began to try and do it myself, that is design and build something that I'm proud of. To this day, I haven't been involved in knocking down a period house or a noteworthy house to replace it with one of my designs. When we embarked on purchasing the church, everyone was concerned that the building would be demolished to make way for two new homes. heritage Victoria got involved and so did the local council. Letters were written, reports were engaged and even solicitors letters were sent to us. However their concerns were eleviated when they discovered that my wife and I were going to retain the church and infact showcase all the heritage qualities.
You were also spot on, that to do this we needed to show the church for what is was, an 1892 building adjacent to a contemporary addition. We are also proud to say that past perishiners and the last priest to administer a service all loved our conversion. It wasn't an easy project and infact it was the most difficult task we have ever taken but we loved it. I also wouldn't be an architect if I didn't say that, if I had my time again there are details I would have done differently. Unfortunately this is a curse of being a responsible architect as I always seem to utter these words on all our projects.
All the best,
Dominic Bagnato