Striking a Balance

Embracing a warm, minimalist approach, architect Travis Walton transformed an old Victorian cottage in Melbourne’s St Kilda into a place of serenity and respite

The work of Travis Walton Architecture is consistently underpinned by a curiosity about form and materiality, and a strategic approach to spatial programming. St Kilda apartment is an expression of these pursuits; a restrained yet rich interior that brings delight to the clients’ everyday experience of home. 

With incongruous additions from a 1990’s renovation obscuring the beauty of the old Victorian cottage, Walton recalls, ‘the layout was totally compromised with passageways, but the house held so much promise.’ Optimising the compact floor plate’s potential, Walton’s dexterous planning has created a sense of generosity and forged connections between spaces. The front bedroom, for example, is fitted with double doors and the ceiling has been lifted to increase the sense of space. A notional threshold marks entry into the public areas, where previously discrete rooms are combined into a free-flowing space for living and dining. On the first floor, private areas have been rearranged to accommodate an additional bedroom, and Walton opted to retain the generously scaled master suite, now finished with lustrous forest green carpets and oak cabinetry. 

‘Spatial gestures serve a dual purpose,’ says Walton of his approach to tightening up the composition of spaces. The stairs have been widened to accommodate a cabinet that conceals kitchen amenities and appliances while also screening the oak staircase from view. A fluted banquette occupies an existing recessed nook, allowing the dining setting to hug the wall, while a floating concrete fireplace doubles as a plinth to display art and objects.

The fine-tuning of these spatial interventions effectively maximises the sense of space and allows for the inclusion of elements not often seen in a house of this size. A new laundry space separates the dining room and bathroom, while the expansive kitchen belies the home’s small footprint. Here, a shallow brass ledge replaces overhead cabinetry and provides a sense of airiness and repose, enhanced by a broad pivot door that draws in light from the rear courtyard.

The home is generous in both its spaciousness and quality of finishes. A restrained palette of natural oak flooring and oak-veneer cladding, concrete and white marble craft a contemporary minimalism without being austere. Original features, including an ornamental bay window, are thoughtfully retained and honoured, adding a sense of detail and craft. The atmosphere strikes a fine balance between restraint and embellishment, and brutalism and sentimentality; a quiet urban retreat that captures the style and spirit of its owners.

Text / Hayley Curnow
Images / Elisa Watson