How rundown Northcote house became award-winning gem

1 month ago 26

Before this architect award-winning home was designed and built, a much different home stood at 27 Cunningham St, Northcote.

“There was a dilapidated house on the block which the council allowed to be demolished, in order to build our home,” the vendor says.

“We already lived in the street – and renovated that home – before we bought the block. “Having gone through that renovation, we realised we wanted to build from scratch to create our ideal home.”

The vendors engaged Austin Maynard Architects, who created a design inspired by modernist architecture that took out the Residential Architecture Award for Victorian Architecture Awards in 2016.

Modernist influences are clear throughout the three-bedroom home’s interior and exterior, especially in the flat roof and large glass windows.

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A three-bedroom house at in Northcote has listed for sale.


The stunning home has a $3.8m-$4m price guide.


“We worked closely with the architects throughout to create a spacious and open feel, without being open plan, with the kitchen as the hub of the home linked to various living and dining spaces – creating a feeling of being separate, but together,” the vendor explains.

“The home has completely and effectively lived up to those design expectations.

“The design and its build, which was executed by Sargant Construction, incorporated sustainable features, including north-facing, double-glazed windows, high-performance insulation, and a large water tank.

“The house was carefully designed, using passive solar principles, to be cool in summer and warm in winter.”

Local materials were used where possible, including the spotted gum features throughout the home.

The house is designed around a central passage that connects two separate living spaces, a dining room and kitchen that features a quartzite-topped bench and Gaggenau, Miele and Bertazzoni appliances.

The kitchen has a quartzite-topped bench and Gaggenau, Miele and Bertazzoni appliances.


The property features include 20m lap pool.


The home’s flexibility makes it versatile, suitable for both families and entertaining.


Other features include a climate-controlled wine cellar, hydronic heating and a solar/gas-heated 20m lap pool.

Some of the vendor and their family’s favourite elements of the home are the light-filled rooms and seamless flow of indoor-outdoor spaces.

“We love the various living areas that look out onto the garden. There is a real feeling of serenity being surrounded by so much glass and green,” they say.

“The front rooms (top and bottom floors) also have semi-opaque in-built automatic blinds that rise from the ground up. This allows for privacy, additional light and views of the sky and trees.”

Additionally, the home’s flexibility makes it versatile, suitable for both families and entertaining.

Jellis Craig Fitzroy’s Antony Woodley has the home listed for auction with a $3.8m-$4m price guide on October 25 at noon.

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