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Exterior terrace with concrete bench seat in Ripponlea House by Luke Fry

Luke Fry squeezes extension behind bungalow in Melbourne

At the back of a narrow Edwardian bungalow in Melbourne, the studio of Australian architect Luke Fry has added a contemporary extension with greyscale interiors.

The semi-detached bungalow, called Ripponlea House, is set down a tree-lined street in the titular Melbourne suburb and belongs to a young family.

The owners initially wanted to turn their home into a two-storey property. But, undeterred by the bungalow's small footprint, Fry instead opted for establishing better quality living spaces at ground level.

Living room interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry with window seat and grey couch
Luke Fry's Ripponlea extension features an open living and dining area

The studio knocked down the entire rear of the house, preserving only a couple of rooms at the front of the plan.

In its place now stands a lengthy volume that accommodates a dining-cum-living area, kitchen, bedroom and bathroom.

A grey linen sofa and a couple of boucle armchairs lie at the heart of the lounge, accompanied by a wood burner and low-lying bench.

Flowing curtains and wood burner in living room interior of Ripponlea House
The kitchen and dining area adjoin a smaller internal courtyard

The space is fronted by expansive three-by-three-metre glass doors that had to be lifted onto the site by crane.

These can be slid back to grant the owners access to a paved garden with an L-shaped concrete seat in its corner, which is inset with a greenery-filled planter.

To further amplify the home's connection with the outdoors, Fry created a couple of smaller internal courtyards including one adjoining the kitchen.

Kitchen with marble tops and wooden furniture in home by Luke Fry
Durable materials like oak and stone can be seen throughout the interior

"We focused on maximising the tight single-fronted site as best we could by carving courtyards into the building to enhance natural light and its connection to the landscape," Fry explained.

"The design, both internally and externally, is one that creates a sense of calm."

The kitchen features oak cabinetry and a stone-topped island – materials that the studio says are timeless and durable. Oakwood also lines sections of the floor, while most of the brick walls were simply washed with plaster and sealed with wax.

A corridor punctuated with a circular skylight leads through to the extension's moody bedroom, which is decked out exclusively in grey tones.

Bedroom interior of Ripponlea House with brick walls and simple grey bed
Grey tones permeate the bedroom

In the adjacent bathroom, an oak-framed washstand sits across from a deep-set concrete tub.

"It's hard for me to look past the concrete rendered bath as my favourite element," Fry explained. "It was experimental for us and something which we are truly proud of."

Concrete tub in bathroom interior of Ripponlea House
A concrete tub features in the bathroom

Luke Fry founded his eponymous studio in 2014.

Ripponlea House joins a number of other design-focused homes in Melbourne including the Grange Residence by Conrad Architects, which is clad in acid-etched marble, and Pony by Wowowa, which features a scalloped metal roof.

The photography is by Timothy Kaye.


Project credits:

Architecture: Luke Fry Architecture and Interior Design
Builder: Cote Constructions

More images

Exterior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Kitchen interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Kitchen interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Kitchen interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Kitchen interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Living room interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Living room interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Living room interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Dining room interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Bathroom interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Bathroom interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Bathroom interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry
Bathroom interior of Ripponlea House by Luke Fry