Six-Ways House

Located in the vibrant nineteenth century neighbourhood of North Fitzroy, Melbourne, new build, Six-Ways, sits on the ‘six-ways' roundabout providing an interesting challenge for architects Kennedy Nolan in keeping with the heritage of the area, while also contributing to the streetscape and surrounding urban environment. Met with setbacks from Yarra heritage advisors, Kennedy Nolan were able to meet a compromise on references to dominant historic fabric types, creating a more distinct response to architectural heritage in the area. 

Previously a 1980’s residence, the home's limitations largely defined the design of the Six-Ways House. Improving on the flow of the home, the architects paid particular attention to bringing light into the space and creating a seamless connection between indoor and outdoor living areas, while also increasing the thermal efficiency. With main intentions for the design of the home to be a considered balance between outdoor and indoor living, placing emphasis on material usage to maximise this integration.

main intentions for the design of the home to be a considered balance between outdoor and indoor living

When designing the facade of the home, Kennedy Nolan took inspiration from surrounding buildings, with their key focus on corner homes and how the Six-Ways House could seamlessly blend in with its environment while also attributing to the architectural heritage of North Fitzroy. Drawing from the Spotted Gum trees in the area for colour palettes, the use of the Austral Bricks in Indulgence provided the build with a textural feel. With a mix of raw materials and green hues, incorporating the landscape into the home allowed for a natural flow of indoor to outdoor.

The rare double-width lot allowed Kenedy Nolan to reinforce the five metre subdivision rhythm and shift the build to the south end of the block, creating a north facing garden. This allowed their design to play with light in the home and also curate an oasis off the street, hidden from view. Their choice of Austral Brick for the perimeter was both aesthetic and functional, acting as both a thermal conductor but also a protective boundary of privacy for the home.