Kitchen at Spring House with green cabinets, timber island, barstools, and a computer on a desk. Skylights and large windows provide daylighting.

Spring House

A modest addition of 21sqm to this previously renovated Edwardian, was all that was required to turn this family home into a more functional, beautiful space.  While still retaining its heritage charm, the spaces have been design to create places for family members to come together, or to have individual quiet time, either inside or out. 

Sustainability, solar passive design, ditching gas, and water saving were key objectives of the brief - we’ve created a home that respects the past, while being resilient to the future. The back of the house faces West, which is not ideal for passive solar design, but the solution to this problem became the hero of this project.  The pergola provides an armature for deciduous vines to shade the back facade and deck in summer.

Every decision we make as architects has sustainability at its core - reusing materials, fixtures and fittings that are in good repair, minimising new footprint and being space efficient, sourcing local, natural and non-toxic products.

Country:
Wurundjeri Country

Location:
Preston, VIC

Project Team:
Imogen Pullar + Emilie Brunel

Builder:
MVH Constructions

Photographer:
Marnie Hawson

Stylist:
Belle Hemming

Total Cost:
<$500k

Year:
2020

Modern wooden house exterior with large windows, patio featuring outdoor furniture and a garden, brick and stone pathways in the foreground.
Front view of a traditional house with white siding, a gabled roof, and decorative porch. The garden features various plants, shrubs, and a stone path.
Group of five people sitting on a wooden porch with a small black dog
Person reading on a wooden porch with plants and trees in a modern backyard garden.
Modern patio with wooden deck, glass door, black chair, potted plant, and slatted wood roof.
Architectural floor plan layout with labels for entry, bedrooms, walk-in robe, bathroom, workspace, kitchen, laundry, dining, living, outdoor living, carport, bike store, and water tank.
Wooden patio with green furniture, small black dog, and surrounding garden.
Wooden patio with slatted walls, green table and bench, and overhead pergola.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, teal cupboards, and an adjoining pantry with open shelves and plants.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinetry, black faucet, and a gray countertop. Two wooden bar stools are at the island. A shelf displays art and decorative items above a vase with foliage. Light beige curtains cover a large window.
Modern kitchen with light wood flooring, gray cabinets, island with sink, and large windows with sheer curtains.
Modern kitchen with green and wood cabinetry, a large island, bar stools, and decorative shelving.

“I love the flow between the older front part of the house and the new open plan area at the back, the connection to the outdoor space and garden via the vine-covered pergola. I also love the simplicity of the design and the integrated and subtle use of textures, colours and materials makes it a very calm place to be.”

Homeowners

Modern dining room with wooden table, chairs, open shelving, decorative items, and artwork; neutral tones and natural light.
Interior room with wooden shelves, framed art, decorative baskets, pottery, beige curtains, large glass doors, and a small black dog looking outside.
Minimalist home office with wooden desk and chair, laptop, decorative shelves with books, vases, framed artwork, and a potted plant.

The joinery in the dining room transforms into a home office during the day, and is quickly hidden with a whoosh of a floor-to-ceiling curtain, for a luxurious and peaceful home after knockoff.

Modern bathroom with terrazzo floor, wooden vanity, white sink, open window, and hanging towel.
Bedroom with a wooden shelf above the bed, holding framed portrait, decorative plate, small plant, books, and a white lamp. Bed has white and brown pillows and linens, potted plant on side table.
Wooden entryway bench with storage, decorated with woven baskets, a potted plant, a hanging jacket, a straw hat, and a colorful woven bag.
Minimalist bathroom with wooden vanity, green tiles, and woven basket. Adjacent closet with hanging clothes and shelf.

In the media

Inside Out, August, 2022

Stijlvol women, May, 2022

The design Files, Feb , 2023