North Fitzroy Project

Let us walk you through…

Scope of works - Demolish existing home and build two luxury custom townhouses
Building Designer - Mat Elkan design.
Interior Design & Build -  Nook Construction  

The Concept

The concept was simple. Minimalist, yet intricately detailed. The 350m2 block was to welcome two brand new luxury townhouses, each with 3 bedrooms and 2.5 bathrooms, internal and rear courtyards and open plan kitchen/living/dining zones. One of the townhouses was to have a carport/lockup garage to suit that particular client’s lifestyle. Finishes were to include underfloor hydronic heating, polished concrete floors, large use of timber to provide visual warmth and texture, a neutral colour palette, large format windows and skylights to let as much light in as possible.

3D rendering of concept prior to construction

Both townhouses were to accommodate families of 4. The floorplans were designed to make optimal use of the small footprint. Minimalist details include floor-to-ceiling pivot doors, shadow line/P50 flush-finish skirting boards and square-set plaster cornice details which helped to create an increased sense of space and grandeur in both townhouses. In both townhouses, an emphasis on using carpentry as the main trade was clear with the strong use of timber panelling and sculptural details dotted throughout both homes. The North house took on a more sculptural approach while remaining fresh, clean and minimal. The South house used birch ply panelling, black Paperock cabinetry balanced with the concrete floors and large format windows. 
These elements worked to create an industrial vibe within a Scandinavian aesthetic.

The Construction

It is always challenging navigating a build site on a main arterial road. Nicholson Street in North Fitzroy offers a great location, public transport at your doorstep, and acts as a main artery for people leaving or heading into the city. This brings challenges of road closures, logistical nightmares, and at times disgruntled neighbours. We are experienced with inner city builds so these challenges were not unusual, and readily overcome.  We were helped by a very narrow laneway that provided access to the rear of the properties. With demolition completed, we could commence the site cut. Removing and re-forming a job site ready for concrete is a gruelling task. Weather plays a huge factor and we were blessed with sunny days right up until we were to start laying the structural steel in the foots and slab. We were greeted with an unprecedented amount of rain over one weekend completely flooding the site and destroying most of the footings previously made. We had to lick our wounds and get back in the trenches, removing mud and soil then having to re-form footings to the correct specifications. At times, building can be frustrating but perseverance and adaptability always gets us out of these situations and pushing forward.  A big sigh of relief was exhaled knowing we were out of the ground once the concrete slab was poured.  Finally we could grab the nail guns and start framing.  

Site cut underway

We really enjoyed building this frame. Complex and tricky details were everywhere you looked. Box gutter details, seamless material transitions, plaster ceiling details working to slip perfectly behind window frames, and so much more.  Flush finish details were certainly a large part of the brief in the North house. We used all kinds of clever methods to achieve these details while building a well performing home. Both townhouses were dubbed by the trades and subs “the house of millimetres”. Every detail was crucial to achieving the overall look of each space.

As builders, we are the conductors of the orchestra. We work closely with every trade and sub that walks through the hoarding, explaining, troubleshooting and helping out where possible to ensure everyone is on the same page with regard to the small details. Windows are a key feature in these two townhouses, the most important being the front facade. This was the statement piece that all of Melbourne would be front and centre to see. Everything had to be perfect! Surrounding these epic windows were express reveals made from aluminium and powder coated. The reveals gave the facade drama and depth while also creating a shade screen to help keep the front rooms cool from the hot evening sun. 

The time had come to remove the protective carpet from the slab and welcome our concrete grinding team in to polish the concrete floors. We opted for a Hi-Grind to capture a “salt and pepper” finish. To achieve this, the floor is ground down using large disc’s imbued with diamond. The grind starts at with a rough disc and as the floor is slowly ground down, the disc used get finer and finer until the desired finished is met. This is opposed to using a two-part epoxy finish. A hardening agent is applied post-grind to make sure the concrete is as hard as possible, ready to take on the challenges of a family of 4. We love this finish, and matched with the in- slab hydronic heating, it’s an absolute winner.

"Salt and pepper” concrete finish

A feature we incorporated into the North house was the planter box in the balustrade of the staircase. The dividing wall in the stairwell (as pictured) was rendered in a concrete-look finish that provided beautiful texture against the Victorian Ash timber treads.  However, there was still missing something… GREENERY! The use of indoor plants is well known to lift moods and alleviate stress. Hanging and climbing plants were selected so they would creep slowly down the wall, passing you as you ascend to the bedrooms upstairs. A great custom feature we would like to see more often!

Stairwell planter box

The biggest wow factor (for me personally) is the sculptural timber bulkhead in the North house.  The ground floor air conditioner/comfort system needed a home.  It is common practice to conceal these units in a bulkhead.  The space for a bulkhead was minimal, almost non-existent. We discussed many scenarios for placement, though none seemed fit for purpose. We made the decision to put it in the most optimal position that would service the entire ground floor efficiently. It was placed in the centre of the dining space. Brave and bold!  Now we had to figure out how we were going to tastefully encase the unit, while still having sufficient supply and return air for the unit.

The plan was to create an inverted pitched roof-style sculpture. I was personally in charge of creating the bulkhead detail and I can say, without a doubt, that it was the most challenging experience I have had as a carpenter. Making the timber shadowlines marry up, mitres look sharp, achieve seamless integration with the skylight, and the curved wall -it had to be perfect or it wasn’t worth doing. So many factors came into play, and on top of that, we had to completely seal the inside of the bulkhead so the unit performed properly. Shadowlines were routed in to create slots which supplied air to the air conditioning unit. More slots were created on the side of the bulkhead to push the conditioned (warm or cool air) back into the living space. When the air conditioner was powered up, we were initially a bit nervous about its performance, but it worked an absolute treat. A huge amount of planning and preparation went into this detail, and for it to work so well was a real achievement.      

The Hero Material

The North townhouse had a huge emphasis on using timber throughout the home. We sourced our timber from Radial Timber in Melbourne. Radial Timber supplies high-quality world-class products, utilising the most advanced technology in a sustainable way, allowing plantation and regrowth forests to be processed in an efficient manner. The radial process produces more wood from fewer trees.  It is an ideal process for processing small diameter plantation sawlogs.  With the construction industry using many products with large amounts of embodied carbon, timber, and especially Radial’s timber, it is a great option in a home. We used their batten-look tongue and groove profile to clad the entire southern boundary wall (28 meters long), floor to ceiling with a 5mm shadow line. The shadow line creates a sense of the wall floating, but also acts as an expansion and contraction control measure (timber moves!). Installing timber hard up against other hard finishes can result in cracking, slitting and creaking.  
Always allow for movement for longevity.  

Another beautifully built home by Nook!  

FIN