Replaying a dream

March 24, 2016

Replaying a dream

This article originally appeared Wednesday 12 November, 1997 in The Age.

BUILT in 1948 by builder C.S. Cameron, the house at 246 Balwyn Road, Balwyn, was apparently a dream house built for a former Lord Mayor of Melbourne who, according to the present owners, wanted to capture the past while looking to the future.

It was mainly a family home where numerous charity functions took place. The billiard room was originally a ballroom with a timber floor specially designed for dancing and the third floor was a picture theatre seating 20 people, the balconies on either side giving guests a 360-degree view of the city skyline and surrounding suburb.

The rooftop area has held more than 200 people on several occasions and, at least once in the past 48 years, there has been a rooftop wedding at sunset.

Sold twice since 1948, the house today looks tired, say Arhicentre architect Andrew Czapnik.

However, the elevated position opposite cricket and football grounds, and the art deco-style bay windows, herald an unusually fine property.

A covenant dictates that it must remain as a single dwelling.

Mr Czapnik praises the spectacular original wrought-orion balustrading that flanks the steps up to the house, but would change the step and porch tiles to better match building’s brickwork.

While the house on its corner is huge, it is not overwhelming or intimidating. It does have the advantage of two separate undercroft garages.

To update the existing floor plan, Mr Czapnik would turn the two ground-floor lounges and third bed-room into one enormous living room with double doors. New double doors into the dining room make for easy access for large numbers of people to move from one room to the next. The bathroom becomes a cloak room and laundry.

Opening the newly refurbished kitchen into the existing sun room and adding another generous bay window, echoing those at the front of the house, provide a comfortable open-plan kitchen and family room.

Mr Czapnik would also add a second staircase off the family area to the second and third floors for family, staff or caterers to use.

On the second floor, Mr Czapnik further rationalises the floor plan by turning the billiard room into a wonderful study next to three bedrooms and, above the new bay addition, a children’s rumpus and TV room. The family bathroom is refitted and the existing main and second bed-rooms give way to an extremely spacious main bedroom, en suite bathroom and dressing room.

Pushing the third floor retreat to the edge of the existing roof balcony, Mr Czapnik would create a new entertainment and studio space of dramatic proportions and include a fitted bar.

These bold improvements and additions would give the house a new but elegantly controlled spin for the turn of the century and beyond.