the quoin house

1880’s brick villa with polychrome detailing

SCOPE OF WORKS:
Restoration, renovation
Alterations & extension.
BUILDER: GENJUSHO
JOINER: PETER GILL
Logo design for Blue Fruit interior architecture and design
Renovation and restoration of polychrome brick late Victorian villa at Brighton, Melbourne by Blue Fruit design.
Modern living room with large gray sectional sofa, wooden coffee table, dining area with long wooden table and chairs, sliding glass door leading outside to a patio and backyard, high ceilings with large windows, brick accents, and a ceiling fan. 
THE LEGACY:
A brick villa built in Brighton, Melbourne in the 1880s, with incredible polychrome (multiple coloured bricks) detailing to the facades. One of the most striking uses of polychrome is around the windows and the quoins on the corners of the original house - which lead to the project nickname of The Quoin House. 

The use of polychrome brickwork was not just a fashion in the late 19th century. It was also a calling card by the builder – a way to show-off high quality workmanship. And it was a way for the original owner to display to the world at large (or at least those going past) that they had enough riches to afford such high quality workmanship. The villa was built as part of a row of speculative houses for middle class residents in the late Victorian era, in a suburb that was then (and still is) very desirable due to proximity to the cooling sea breezes and surrounding stately homes.
Extension to 19th century villa in Melbourne, with contemporary version of a saw-tooth roof. Contemporary heritage design by Blue Fruit design. 
THE BRIEF:
Enhance the liveability of a late 19th century villa in a beautiful street close to the beach in Brighton. Remove the unsympathetic additions and reconfigure the floor plan to create a better use of space for a family of four. Play up every opportunity to create natural ventilation and brighten rooms with abundant natural daylight. Retain & restore original heritage elements wherever possible, and create a new extension to the ground floor to work seamlessly with the rest of the house's personality and the client's lifestyle.
Bathroom sink area with a round mirror above a white vanity countertop, copper faucet, soap dispensers, a towel hanging on the wall, and a potted plant with white flowers. Blue tiled wall and a ceiling light fixture are also visible. 
THE DESIGN RESPONSE:
The clients' love of camping and the great outdoors, combined with the quirky personality of the dramatically beautiful polychrome quoins on the original house, paved the way for a design for a light-filled contemporary family home which salutes contrasts of light and dark, and references the original part of the villa. Removing the earlier poky extension and replacing it with a generous single level Great Room, to incorporate a new kitchen, dining & living area, also allowed for the opportunity to include the family's much-loved billiard table right in the heart of things. A saw-tooth roof brings in welcome northern sunshine and gives the family the option of controlling natural ventilation through openable clerestory windows.  

The guiding motto for the design was 'quoining to celebrate the junction' and to this end, the extension was built with contemporary versions of polychrome brickwork sitting neatly below expressed steel beams. Thanks to the patient and talented bricklayers, the bricks operate as an artwork in the space - creating a sense of movement and richness which helps to make the large room feel cosy and exciting.  
An earlier two-story extension (between the original villa and the new single level extension) was retained, but reworked internally to open it up as dynamic bedroom and playing wing for the children.

The addition of a new Alfresco - with polychromed quoin brick piers to reference the interior living spaces - links the beckoning swimming pool to the house in what is now a seamless, inviting space.
Backyard patio with a wooden deck, outdoor dining table, and lush greenery, adjacent to a swimming pool enclosed by a glass fence.
Backyard patio with a wooden deck, brick columns with climbing plants, surrounded by grass, trees, and a wooden fence.
“Our house is so ‘fab’ thanks to you - your expertise, practical experience and care.”
— client, the Quoin House
Interior view of a modern living space with a brick wall dividing the room, featuring a hanging light fixture above a glass vase with pink flowers, a dining area with wooden chairs and a vase of purple flowers on the left, and a sitting area with a gray sofa and decorative pillows on the right. Large windows showcase a garden outside.
Modern living room with brick accents, large windows, a sectional sofa, a wooden dining table with a vase of flowers, and a fireplace.
A modern interior with a wooden sideboard, a glass vase with pink flowers, a wall mirror, and a wall-mounted light fixture.
A bathroom interior with a decorative white fireplace mantel, a potted plant on top, beige tiled walls, a wooden vanity with a round mirror, sink, and a distinctive hanging light fixture.
A patterned tiled walkway bordered by lush green foliage with large, shiny leaves.
Modern bathroom with beige vanity, dark blue tiled wall behind mirror, round mirror, potted plant, and shower area visible.
A modern ceiling pendant light with a white dome shade, a textured brown top, hanging from a black cord in a room with tiled walls and a partial mirror.
A modern bathroom with brown tiled walls, a terrazzo floor, and a stone vanity with a round sink. There are two circular mirrors above the vanity, and a small window near the ceiling. The shower area has a rain showerhead and three soap bottles on a wall-mounted shelf, with greenery hanging from it.
Living room with a brick fireplace, sitting area, pool table, and large windows.
Front view of a brick house with a garden, plants, and a curved brick walkway leading to the front door.

THE QUOIN HOUSE

PHOTOGRAPHY: Patrick Redmond
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