Introduction

For contemporary architects and renovation-minded homeowners, the challenge of updating heritage homes lies in striking a balance between
honoring the past and accommodating present-day living. Kesterson House, a grand 19th-century residence located in St
Kilda, Australia, offers a masterclass in how to navigate this intricate balance. Originally built in 1875, this residential landmark has
recently been sensitively transformed by Melbourne-based studio Bunston, emerging as a benchmark project in heritage
adaptation, thoughtful restoration, and sustainable residential design.

Combining a rigorous understanding of architectural history with bold yet respectful design strategies, Bunston’s intervention revitalizes
Kesterson House not as a relic of the past, but as a vibrant and functional home that continues its legacy well into the 21st century.

Historical Context

Commissioned by businessman William Kesterson in the late 1800s, the house is an exemplar of Victorian-era craftsmanship and formality.
Kesterson, a prominent figure in the development of St Kilda, was also linked to other local landmarks such as the former Prince of Wales
Hotel. Over the decades, the house evolved alongside the neighborhood—transitioning from private family residence into a professional
architectural studio under Allan Powell, one of Melbourne’s influential modernists.

This layered occupancy informed the character of the home: original cornices stood beside altered layouts, and magnificent fireplaces
neighbored fluorescent-lit workspaces. Bunston’s redesign was thus not about restoring a frozen moment from 1875, but cultivating a
continuum—honoring multiple eras of use to foster a spatial narrative that respects the home’s plural identities.

Design Principles and Architectural Approach

Preservation as Stewardship

At the heart of Bunston’s architectural ethos is the concept of stewardship. Rather than imposing a strict vision or chasing
maximalist transformation, the design team chose to operate as temporary custodians. Every intervention was driven by longevity, carefully
considering how future generations might utilize and appreciate the home.

This philosophy guided key decisions, from the scale of the addition to the selection of materials. The result is an environment where
architectural newness foregrounds and supports, but never overshadows, the original fabric.

Courtyard-Centric Reconfiguration

A significant pivot in the functional and experiential organization of Kesterson House was the introduction of a new, landscaped courtyard
at its center. This move was both poetic and practical. It introduced generous natural light into the historic structure—often challenged
by limited openings and deep corridors—and created a new anchor point around which daily life unfolds.

Original bluestone pavers and reclaimed bricks from the property were reused in crafting garden walls and pathways, knitting together the
tactile memory of past construction with fresh, breathable outdoor zones. This maneuver also established a transitional dialogue between
the restored heritage fabric and contemporary additions, with nature serving as mediator.

Respectful Additions and Contrasts

Removing unsympathetic office-era modifications was crucial to uncover the architectural integrity of the original building. In their
place, Bunston designed a slender, elegant rear extension wrapped partly in glass and pale timber. Rather than mimic historical forms, the
new volume is clearly of its time—distinguished by its minimalist detailing, clean geometry, and material lightness.

The addition is joined to the original mass via a glass corridor. Critically, this connection is both visual and structural: the
transparency reflects temporal honesty, allowing the original walls to remain legible and uncompromised, while reducing invasive structural
integration—an important preservation principle for future reversibility.

Building Techniques and Technical Specifications

Structural Integration

• Structural steel framing was used for the new pavilion, allowing for a high degree of precision while minimizing weight on the original foundations.
• High-performance glazing in the glass link optimizes thermal comfort without sacrificing transparency or movement of natural light.
• Original load-bearing masonry was carefully stabilized throughout construction, with selective repointing and reinforcements that maintain its expressive texture.

Material Palette

• Bluestone and red bricks: Salvaged and re-integrated into new landscaping for historical continuity.
• Timber cladding: Pale hardwoods such as Tasmanian oak create warmth and clean lines in the new architecture.
• Interior finishes: Limewashed walls and custom timber joinery operate as both neutral backdrops and warmth-giving elements, allowing ornate period details to remain the visual focus.
• Flooring and fixtures: Understated and functional materials keep the aesthetic unobtrusive and coherent across eras.

Sustainability Measures

• Passive solar design: The central courtyard and positioning of glazing facilitate internal cross-ventilation and abundant natural light, minimizing mechanical cooling demands.
• Adaptive reuse strategy: Retaining and upgrading existing structures significantly reduces embodied carbon relative to new-build alternatives.
• Landscape water strategies: Rainwater harvesting and drought-tolerant planting respond to Australia’s climate conditions and reduce long-term maintenance needs.

Contextual Comparisons and Global Relevance

Kesterson House joins a growing cadre of residential projects around the world that respect heritage while elevating livability. It
shares key themes with similarly recognized projects:

• Carlton House (Melbourne): Also a Victorian-era property, this home uses internal light courts and timber volumes to augment spatial clarity and light.
• Maison de Verre (Paris): A pioneering example where 20th-century materials—glass block and steel—are woven into an 18th-century Parisian townhouse with deliberate contrast and finesse.
• Wythe House (Brooklyn): A classic Brooklyn brownstone that layers modern domestic needs with careful façade restoration and contemporary additions at the rear.

Collectively, these case studies underscore a common philosophy: that architecture can and should delineate the past without erasing it,
using transparency, subtraction, and modest materiality as tools for respectful transformation.

Educational Takeaways for Architects and Homeowners

• Stewardship over ownership: When working with heritage residences, adopt a long-term mindset—design for future flexibility, not just present desires.
• Let the original speak: Avoid ornate mimicry or overwriting; instead, allow heritage forms and textures to anchor the spatial narrative. Design additions to contrast softly but clearly.
• Celebrate the space between: Glass links, courtyards, and void spaces can create a conversation between eras while improving site functionality and environmental performance.
• Maximize what you keep: Salvaged brick, stone, and timber are not only sustainable but also deeply expressive, lending texture and authenticity to new interventions.
• Plan reversibly: Especially for protected homes or homes in historically sensitive neighborhoods, make alterations that can be reversed if future needs demand it.

Conclusion

The transformation of Kesterson House by Bunston is a compelling showcase of how heritage homes can transition into new eras of life
gracefully, responsibly, and beautifully. With design strategies rooted in humility, material rigor, and spatial clarity, the project
exemplifies how contemporary family life doesn’t have to come at the expense of history. Instead, it can emerge through it.

For homeowners seeking to update historical residences, and for architects navigating sensitive transformations, Kesterson House offers a
clear and practical model: one that prizes legacy, embraces honesty of materials, and invites the future without forgetting the past.