Hawthorn Cottage

Melbourne-based Architect Rosanna Ceravolo was faced with a very tight floor plan when renovating a Victorian-era cottage in Hawthorn, Melbourne, to create a space that is open and connected to the beautiful pocket park beyond.

In the heart of Hawthorn, nestled amidst the charm of Victorian-era cottages, architect Rosanna Ceravolo, faced a formidable challenge when tasked with transforming a compact Victorian cottage into a space that seamlessly integrates with its surroundings while maximising light and space. The result? A masterful blend of innovation and tradition that breathes new life into the historic dwelling.

One of the most striking features of the renovation is the barrel vault ceiling that replaces conventional height alterations. Ceravolo's decision to retain the cottage's traditional charm while incorporating contemporary elements speaks to her reverence for heritage and innovation.

A complete revival of the materials and colour palette within the space also contributes to a general feeling of openness, adding textural interest without dominating the room, and function and form both operate at maximum capacity, all whilst managing to stay true to the traditional cottage interior.

Rosanna chose hard-wearing and enduring surfaces, including Fibonacci’s Hardware terrazzo where gunmetal to mid-strength greys are peppered with occasional amber and olive granite chips, tempering its appearance with a faint warmth. Hardware’s intense, splintered shards form a complex, uncompromising and unconventional terrazzo, an exemplary material for when contemporary forms meet the hard edges and shadows of Brutalist-inspired architecture.