Project: Liardet Street, Port Melbourne

The former workers cottage on the site, believed to have been constructed in the 1860s, is included in the Heritage Overlay of the Port Phillip Planning Scheme, and had been significantly degraded over the years when Coleman Architects were engaged to restore and extent the building. Later rear additions were removed to enable the construction of a two-storey addition that provided contemporary living spaces on the ground floor and a master bedroom suite and second bedroom at first floor level. Externally, the upper level of the addition was designed to address the massing and concealment requirements of the Heritage Design Guidelines, and specific attention was paid to introducing light and ventilation to the living areas. A neighbouring three-storey apartment building limited access to northern light, so a central courtyard and full-width glazing to the rear were introduced to expand the sense of space and light within the living areas. Several layers of paint were removed from the façade and the front verandah was reconstructed based on interpretation of surviving physical remnants.