A dark form rises discreetly behind the white rendered facade of a 1930s Elsternwick house. The addition to the single-storey dwelling becomes known only as you walk down the driveway toward the front portico, where it appears to symbiotically attach itself to the old. The new form contrasts with the dwelling in material and tone but surprisingly it is not obtrusive – it feeds carefully into the house at the front, growing sensitively taller at the rear.
Soon after they purchased the home, the clients for Hoddle House contacted Freadman White with a desire for it to be renovated and extended, to cater to the needs of their growing family. Having just made a significant purchase, they had a justifiably modest budget, and the area for potential new works was confined to the 150 square metres of backyard. With two young children (and the possibility of more), it was essential that both the existing and new spaces were planned to make efficient use of the old while achieving greater volume within the addition.