Heritage Renovation Architect in Melbourne
We specialise in heritage renovations and extensions to existing heritage homes across Melbourne. We can work with you to take the best elements of Victorian heritage living, and create a property that really works for you on a functional level.
We particularly love the Victorian heritage style — the symmetry and height of these beautiful old homes — and creating design solutions that bring them to life with light, air, extra living spaces and gardens.
With a wealth of experience in Heritage renovations and refurbishments, we can help you retain the character features and appearance of a heritage property, and integrate the benefits of modern living to meet your desired style.
Heritage Renovation
What is Heritage Renovation?
As the most densely populated cities in Australia, space to build in both Melbourne and Sydney’s inner suburbs is limited. With their proximity to the city, parks, and vibrant nightlife, these sought-after areas often lack adequate space to build, with home owners instead choosing to renovate or extend existing properties.
These charming heritage homes offer a fantastic opportunity to preserve the character and connection to the local environment, whilst optimising the house for 21st century living. If you’re considering purchasing a heritage home, make sure you read Five things to consider before buying a heritage home.
We specialise in utilising limited space, developing innovating designs to maximise the property, and blending innovative new build practices with heritage structures. Read more about the 5 principles of heritage renovation.
Heritage Architect Services in Melbourne
Adaptive Reuse
We follow Victoria’s guidelines and principles for considering change to heritage buildings in the Victorian Heritage Register to ensure that changes are aligned with values held by Heritage Victoria.
Adaptive reuse is a form of conservation by repurposing an existing place for new use as an economic and sustainable approach to preserving Victoria’s heritage buildings. Services may focus on retention and repair of historic buildings, but also on the respectful new and added elements to a historic building to extend its life in a useful way.
Heritage Studies
Identifying and assessing heritage places through a thorough physical investigation of a place, followed by careful and accurate documentation, as well as desktop studies to understand elements of significance within the place.
- Historical research and collation of historical images, plans and maps
- Field investigation of potential heritage places
- Comparative analyses of similar places in order to understand the relative importance of a place
- Assessment of significance
Heritage Impact Statements
Preparation of all checklist items required by Council to satisfy the Heritage
Impact Statement.
This typically includes, but is not limited to:
Establishing the cultural heritage significance of the place by assessing;
- Existing conditions
- Current use of the place
- Constraints and opportunities resulting from the significance of the place
- Analysis of the proposed works
- Alternative options considered
- Impact of the proposal on the cultural heritage significance of the place
- Reasons Council should support the proposal
Design and Documentation of Conservation Works
Design and construction documentation services for conservation and restoration works to heritage places.
Heritage Advisory Services
Consulting and expert witness advice for designs to heritage projects that may be impacted by restrictive controls in Commonwealth or state legislation. Wexhaus appraises heritage values against defined heritage criteria or guidance in relation to development opportunities and constraints.
Heritage Interpretation
We can assist in identifying cultural heritage that is significant to communicate to future users through various engagement techniques, while ensuring these interpretations form a cohesive element to the overall design, use and function.
heritage renovation project
Whiffling House
Whiffling House is an Edwardian cottage heritage restoration, with a two-storey extension located in Kingsville, Victoria and owned by Chris and Spencer. It underwent a thorough renovation of the original dwelling as well as a two-storey extension to the rear.
“Through every aspect of their practice, from project design to client relations, the Wexhaus team understands the complexities of the creative process, and the realities needed to achieve a vision.”
Gemma, Melbourne
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Find out how we can help you create the quality, style, and lifestyle that you seek.