Maryville Heirloom House

Marjorie's house is a historic 1905 brick miners' cottage in the heart of Maryville. After three generations of occupation, this humble home required a thoughtful renewal to accommodate the family's current and future generations whilst addressing site flood conditions and climate change. 

Preserving the character of the existing brick miners' cottage was paramount to our approach. We meticulously maintained the original structure's outlines and memories, removing select walls with minimal demolition. 

A new elevated split-level living pavilion has been constructed, raised 1.4 meters above the natural ground level to reduce flood risks. This addition enhances daily activities and promotes outdoor connections. Centered around a terraced garden, it provides a sensory-rich environment and a welcoming, active, covered outdoor space to facilitate a smooth transition between levels, encouraging a strong connection to the ground-level outdoors.

Our architectural approach embraces a harmonious dialogue between old and new. The contrast between the new pavilion's gable roof and the original cottage's high-pitched hip roof form exemplifies the suburban character that creates a meaningful connection to the surrounding built environment.

The materials soften legibility. The existing materials pallet—brick, timber, and metal sheet—is maintained within the new works, expressed and crafted to complement and add cohesion to the overall design.

This thoughtful arrangement of old and new creates a seamless experience that enhances the home's functionality and longevity.