Lush courtyard garden at Boston Villa, with various plants and trees, surrounded by brick and timber buildings, featuring a stone pathway.

Boston Villa

Imogen was first introduced to the house as a graduate of architecture when she worked for Nest Architects.

Boston Villa was first built in the 1860’s by John Candy - whose son was a monumental mason who carved the beautiful parapets. Nest Architects completed the first renovation in 2009 after squatters burnt down the original house - leaving only the front two rooms intact - this original renovation was concealed behind the heritage façade and created light filled airy spaces that cleverly opened up to a private internal courtyards and light wells.

After 15 years since the original Nest renovation, the house needed a few upgrades, and the children - now adults -require more autonomy and independent spaces. The response is a two storey addition adjacent to the rear laneway - providing a robust boundary to the gritty alley - with large private openings into the internal courtyard.

This was an exercise in ‘tetris-ing’ built form into a tight urban context while maintaining views, access to daylight, privacy and comfort.

While doing upgrades to the existing house - its was a perfect time to convert heating and hot water systems to electric and added 10kW of solar panels, to reduce reliance on unsustainable power sources, and reduce living costs in the process!

Country:
Wurundjeri Country

Location:
Fitzroy, VIC

Project Team:
Imogen Pullar + Emilie Brunel

Builder:
Blue Rock Construct

Photographer:
Marnie Hawson

Stylist:
Belle Hemming

Total Cost:
<$1mil

Year:
2022

Boston Villa's living room with timber ceiling, brown sofa, blue pillow, abstract paintings, bookshelves, large windows, and a glass coffee table.
Boston Villa's living room with timber ceiling, terrazzo flooring, large windows, brown sofa, marble table, decorative lamps, wall art, and garden view.
Boston Villa's kitchen and dining area with timber cabinetry, large island, black pendant lights, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Indoor-outdoor living space with glass doors.
Boston Villa's kitchen with timber cabinetry, stone countertop, and large glass doors opening to a brick courtyard.
Boston Villa's kitchen with green cabinetry, timber island, and black stools. A red wall lamp, dining table, and plants. Sunlight from skylight.
Floor plan of Boston Villa ground floor.

“The clients envisioned a space that could seamlessly integrate with their existing home, provide a comfortable and functional environment, and reduce their environmental footprint. As such, the project evolved to encompass not only an expansion and reconfiguration but also a comprehensive upgrade of the home’s energy efficiency, with measures like double glazing, solar panels, sun shading and a transition to all-electric systems.”

Ola Moszumanska - Habitus Living

Floor plan of Boston Villa first floor.
Boston Villa's living room with timber ceiling, brown sofa, blue pillow, abstract paintings, bookshelves, large windows, and a glass coffee table.

“Our favourite spot is the side sitting room, which has the best morning light and a ‘home office’ desk that looks out to the garden.”

Homeowners

Boston Villa's dining room with timber table, chairs, large windows, red light fixture, potted plants, and artwork on walls.
Modern interior with a wooden desk, two yellow chairs, a yellow lamp, and various decorative items near a window with a brick wall view.

“It's a beautiful melding of historical Victorian Melbourne architecture with modern comforts and spaces.”

The homeowners

Modern interior with large windows, brick wall, and minimalist decor.
Modern courtyard with a brick wall, small tree, white metal chair, and wooden paneling.
Brick outdoor patio with a barbecue area and a tree, minimalist chair, and plants.
Modern living room with yellow armchair, glass display cabinet, contemporary art, and decorative totem pole; blue rug and marble coffee table.
Cozy bedroom with bed, white bedding, a framed artwork, a wooden chandelier, brown curtains on windows, and a colorful rug.
Modern minimalistic bathroom with terrazzo sink, vertical gray tiles, terracotta floor, and hanging bulb lights.
Modern bathroom with vertical tile walls, terrazzo sink, potted plant, and hanging light bulb.
Modern bathroom with white tiles, brown counter, white sink, bathtub, showerhead, and potted plant.
Modern bathroom with white tile walls, hanging plant, wooden vanity, terrazzo countertop, square sink, bathtub, terracotta floor tiles, and glass window panels.
Modern house exterior with large glass windows and black frames, exposed brick patio, greenery, and partial interior view of dining area with wooden furniture.
Boston Villa's home office with pitched timber ceilings, large windows overlooking the courtyard, a desk, white chair, colorful shelf, and abstract artwork on the wall.
Modern living room with large window, wooden bench with colorful cushion, a dog, and green sofa.
Boston Villa's first floor living room with pitched timber ceiling, pink chairs, round coffee table, colourful lamp, window with tree view.
Exterior of a building with brick walls, an open wooden door, graffiti, and climbing plants.
Brick building with graffiti in urban alley, tree overhead, person walking dog

In the media

Habitus Living, online

House & Garden, July, 2024