Farrant Street House

When renovating a period home, the treatment of old and new features is an important one – and a consideration that is often dealt with through sensitive materiality. When renovating Farrant Street House in Adelaide, Think Architects decided to celebrate the dialogue between old and new through contrast. “The original house was built in 1890 in a Victorian villa style,” explains architect Adam Cavuoto, director of Think Architects. “We wanted to maintain the original character and charm but modernise with beautiful, hand-crafted products that pay homage to the original home.” This was achieved through the use of a dynamic palette of materials that share the same warmth and tactility, yet clearly define the existing and new spaces. Tongue & Groove solid European oak floorboards in Freado, for example, have been used in the original home and are contrasted to polished concrete flooring in the addition. “I love the warm feel Freado brings to the interior space,” says Cavuoto. “It has a soft touch and is true to the natural colour and tones of European oak.” The Tongue & Groove boards are set out in an elegant herringbone pattern that evokes the character of the original dwelling, while the large format of the boards gives it a contemporary edge. “The herringbone pattern extenuates the width and grandeur of the entry passage and helps to frame the beautiful original arch feature,” says Cavuoto. “I love the transition it creates from old to new and the timber helps identify each space as being original compared to the addition.”