The original red brick home at 82 Ebden St. Photos: Supplied.
The Garden City urban planning design style of the 1920s and 30s led to the development of housing in Ainslie which is still among the most sought-after in Canberra 100 years later.
It has certainly stood the test of time.
The four-bedroom home at 82 Ebden Street, Ainslie exemplifies both the Garden City design, located just over the road from Hoddle Gardens, and the architectural style of the 1940s when this red brick cottage was built.
Described in the Government Property and Tenancy Register documents rather uninspiringly as a ‘brick house’, 82 Ebden was assessed on the 4 April 1941 as having rates of £3.17s and a market value of £115.
Today, the extended, renovated four-bedroom home is a glowing example of how to sympathetically move a heritage home into the 21st century in a way that is beautifully consistent with the home’s history and character.
The home has an architecturally designed extension.
The old brick house has been transformed into a bedroom and an open plan kitchen/dining/family area, with architect Geoff Lovie obviously giving considerable thought to the conversion, which was entered in the 2004 ACT Architect Awards. It is now a very stylish and modern kitchen diner, with the imperturbable character of the original walls kept as a nod to the past.
A sleek modern kitchen inside the old red brick house.
Lovie’s brief was to provide additions to the existing residence which work with the geometry of the original house but which are modern in styling, energy-efficient and define external courtyard space. The transformation clearly shows the hand of a skilled architect. He has reconfigured the entire block, adding three more bedrooms, and a laundry and bathroom from a sunlit floor to ceiling glass-walled corridor.
The bedroom off the family/dining/living zone could easily function as a guest room or a home office. The interior renovations include some delightful nods to the history of the home, such as the appearance of red brick behind a white gyprock wall as a feature in the family zone of the open plan area.
Central courtyard area.
The bedrooms and laundry are clean and bright, and linked by a hallway entry area with walkthrough access to the double garage with automatic door. The central courtyard’s established trees make a shady and appealing outdoor dining area in summer, with access from any area of the home. A post and beam structure in the courtyard provides further definition and strengthens the geometric relationship between the original house and bedroom wing.
The bedroom wing of the home is delightfully light thanks to the glass-walled hallway which looks out onto the courtyard. The angles in the extension wing provide additional character to the home, and spaces for sitting and absorbing the warmth in winter, from the in-slab heating or direct sunlight streaming through the glass.
The large main bedroom has a walk-in robe, an open bath spa with a shower and a separate toilet, and the central courtyard is a social focal point for the home.
The kitchen/dining/family area features hardwood ash floors and reverse-cycle air conditioning in the living room. The kitchen is an artwork of stainless steel and glass, with storage areas and a walk-in pantry. The island bench looks out over the living and dining areas, with a fireplace set into the wall in the living zone.
The double garage is accessed through the laundry, and a family bathroom separates the bedrooms from the utilities. The history and character of this home make it a must-see, and the location could not be more desirable, close to a myriad of schools, shops, and national attractions such as the Australian War Memorial.
Private inspections for this extraordinary home are available on 2 May from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm, strictly by appointment.
If you would like more information, or to book a private inspection of this home, contact Wright Dunn Real Estate Agent Peter Andrighetto on 0418 623 352.
Expressions of interest close 5 May 2020 at 3:00 pm.
You can explore this property with a 3D Virtual tour online, or view other hot property listings on Zango.
Wright Dunn Real Estate Ainslie is committed to providing a safe environment at private viewings, and has developed a policy to ensure all government recommendations are respected, and that agents understand their responsibility to minimise risk to vendors and buyers, customers and the community during the conduct of business.
All inspections of this property must be made by private appointment only, and inspections will be limited to two people only in order to observe COVID-19 social-distancing measures.
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