- Project: Hawthorn Hood House
- Architect: Bent Architecture
- Location: Australia, Victoria
- Year: 2023
- Area: 451 m2
- Photography: Tatjana Plitt
Hawthorn Hood House by BENT Architecture is a carefully crafted transformation of a heritage home in Victoria, Australia, into a light-filled and engaging ‘forever’ residence for a professional couple with young twins. By retaining the period character of the original home while introducing modern extensions that maximize sunlight and spatial flow, the project offers the best of both worlds — heritage preservation and contemporary family living.
Project Overview
The project began with the clients’ desire to expand their existing home in a neighboring suburb. Early feasibility studies revealed major limitations in solar orientation and site conditions. Instead of compromising, the architects guided the clients toward securing a new property in Hawthorn, chosen for its orientation, location, and heritage character.
From the outset, the design strategy was to embrace the home’s heritage overlay rather than compete with it. The solution involved “unclipping” a poorly executed rear extension, reprogramming the floor plan, and harnessing the northern sunlight in the backyard for the new living areas.
Heritage Context & Architectural Response
The original house possessed significant period character, including:
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Grand internal proportions reflective of early 20th-century residential design.
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Highly articulated terracotta roof forms typical of the neighborhood.
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A heritage overlay ensuring conservation of key exterior elements.
BENT Architecture’s approach was to reinterpret, not replicate. The new extension folds down at the rear as a natural continuation of the roof form, respecting the rhythm of surrounding heritage rooftops while providing a distinct modern addition.
Interior Reprogramming & Layout
The reconfigured floor plan organizes spaces strategically:
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Original home: Bedrooms and utility areas occupy existing spaces, preserving their heritage feel.
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Roof volume: Adapted to accommodate sleeping areas and storage.
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Extension: New living and dining spaces face north, capturing abundant sunlight and opening toward the backyard and pool.
This careful planning not only maximizes functionality but also enhances comfort by bringing daylight deep into the interiors.
Design Features: Light, Flow & Family Living
The extension is characterized by:
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Large glazed openings framing backyard and pool views.
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North-facing orientation that optimizes passive solar gain.
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Seamless indoor–outdoor transitions encouraging family interaction with the garden.
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Roofline geometry that reclaims and reinterprets the original terracotta forms, folding down to match the scale and function of interior spaces.
The outcome is a home that respects its heritage while serving the lifestyle of a modern family.
Materiality & Atmosphere
The design emphasizes a dialogue between old and new:
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Period details of the original structure remain intact, honoring heritage.
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Contemporary materials in the extension — glazing, steel, and sympathetic finishes — contrast with, yet complement, the original house.
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Warm interiors combine neutral tones with natural textures, achieving continuity between heritage charm and contemporary sophistication.
A Forever Home
For the clients — a professional couple raising twins — Hawthorn Hood House delivers more than an architectural solution. It provides a long-term home where heritage character, modern family needs, and sustainable orientation converge.
The thoughtful integration of heritage preservation with new architecture makes this project a model for suburban heritage overlays, proving that timeless charm and contemporary comfort can coexist harmoniously.
Hawthorn Hood House by BENT Architecture exemplifies how heritage homes can be respectfully transformed into sustainable, light-filled residences tailored for modern living. By reprogramming the plan, reinterpreting roof forms, and harnessing northern sunlight, the architects delivered a forever home that celebrates the past while embracing the future.
