Take Wing—Abbotsford Edwardian Weatherboard Transformation

Architect Sally Timmins of Timmins+Whyte Architecture and Design concedes she’d never designed a butterfly roof when she pitched it to her friends Nokky Sodsai and Ben Gayler as an elegant, playful solution to multiple challenges posed by their tight block in a pretty street in Abbotsford, in Melbourne’s inner-city.

The flexible form could compress and expand exactly where required to connect a voluminous new rear living space to the north-facing garden, minimise a discreetly setback upper storey from the street, and harmonise the entire home with the single-storey neighbour with which it shares an eastern boundary wall and a double-storey home to the west.

Internally, its multiple, delightfully leaf-like folds would start low on the east and open up expansively to the west and rear, creating abundant light and generous volumes within a compact footprint. In combination with extensive glazing including louvres and openable skylights, it would animate the space with fresh air, an ever-changing wash of light and shadow-play. Finally, it would allow dynamic views to the courtyard garden and established trees in the immediate vicinity.

Nokky and Ben’s emphatic ‘yes’ to Sally’s experimental roofline and a design developed within weeks of briefing speaks volumes about the trust between architect and clients. Everyone mentions it at various points and, not coincidentally, comments on the fun they had working together. It shows.

Sally says a detailed briefing process and the constraints of the long, skinny block also helped the trio arrive swiftly at a satisfying solution. “We don’t get blank canvases in the inner-city,” she says. Great builders in Encore Projects and Ben’s construction know-how were also a bonus. “In a previous life, Ben worked in construction so he was interested in every part of the build – as much as we were,” Sally recalls. “The builders were enjoyable to work with and really just sailed through, which is great for any clients but especially with the added pressure of working for friends.”

Nokky admits with a laugh she didn’t share Ben’s fascination with the minutiae of the build, but says his understanding of the process made for a relaxed project. “We didn’t freak out when there was a lot of things we had to decide on,” she says.

“If you don’t have that experience or confidence you could be so stressed.”

The functional brief was straightforward. Retain the original façade, front room and an exposed brick feature wall along the eastern boundary with its lovely texture and warmth. Add a bedroom for Nokky’s daughter, Siena, a flexible third bedroom/multipurpose room, a second bathroom, as much storage and insulation as possible, solar power and rainwater tanks. And open the dark little place up to the garden and northern light.

Timmins+Whyte moved the side entrance to the front and created an elegant entry with sightlines straight through to the rear greenery. Curved joinery introduces an elegant, functional feature that unifies spaces throughout. The architects transformed the original front room into a well-insulated multipurpose space used variously as a study, sitting room or guest room. They concealed the laundry in a skylit, Peninsula Hot Springs-esque bathroom of stone and wood, whose tall vanity is mirrored inside and out for easy angling while hair-drying. It’s the kind of considered detailing that abounds in a delightfully functional home.

The brick-lined hallway opens up at the left to a timber staircase and a concealed server room Ben gleefully nominates amongst his highlights. Odd, but I get it. IT, storage and services are everywhere and nowhere – cleverly concealed inside and out to focus the eye instead on crisp detailing, exquisite light, leafy views and the spare palette of warm, natural materials.

The unusually dynamic stairwell is ventilated from above by an openable skylight and side-lit by an elevated stained-glass window awash with greens and golds. Designed by Sally and beautifully handcrafted by Mick Thomson of Arkson, it also screens out the double-height house to the west. ”It’s another way we’re playing with light,” Sally says. “It changes all day and dances across the plaster wall, injecting colour as well.” Ben recalls the tricky space as “probably our biggest design element to solve.” The trio briefly considered timber slats before hitting upon “art that hangs off the wall, and gives us privacy.” Upstairs are the master bedroom and Siena’s room, both with angular vistas across the streetscapes and treetops of Abbotsford. Ahead is the compact kitchen with vast entertainer’s island bench. The kitchen opens up expressively through the multiple folds of the timber-lined butterfly roof, triangular shards of clerestory window and massive glass sliders into an almost double-height dining and living space. It’s lined with tactile joinery of Tasmanian oak quad and flooded with light and borrowed views from the courtyard beyond.

An alluring mix of potted plants, lush garden beds and raised planters packed with edibles, the garden features a fire pit and herringbone brickwork made by rearranging the linear originals. Created by Nokky during Melbourne’s long lockdown, it’s a suitably serene space now attracting half a dozen species of native birds including tawny frogmouths.

Not surprisingly, Ben and Nokky’s favourite pastime is reclining on the handcrafted banquette to gaze out at the garden – anytime, really, but especially in the early morning light. “We call that corner ‘Airbnb’,” Nokky says. “Everyone who comes over loves it too.”