Andrew Simpson Architects converts Melbourne warehouse into family home
Andrew Simpson Architects has converted a red brick warehouse in Melbourne into a loft-style residence, with separate entrances for different members of the resident family (+ slideshow).
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_3.jpg)
The 19th-century warehouse is located in the city's Fitzroy North suburb and was previously occupied by businesses including a jam factory, an aerated water factory, an advertising agency and an engineering consultancy.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_12.jpg)
The Melbourne studio was asked to transform the two-storey building, known as the Water Factory, into a 440-square-metre residence with a flexible layout for an extended family.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_14.jpg)
"This was primarily an interior project," explained architects Andrew Simpson and Emma Parkinson.
"The footprint of the two-storey building coincides with the site boundaries, and the significant heritage constraints limited options for altering the external envelope of the building."
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_2.jpg)
"To address the need for multiple possibilities for extended family living, the design is conceived as a collection of houses contained within the broader envelope of the building," they added.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_8.jpg)
The architects organised the majority of the living spaces on the upper level, leaving the ground floor free for other uses. They then drew up a plan that creates separate entrances for different family members.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_13.jpg)
The main staircase is located at the centre of the plan, and can be accessed from both of the two ground floor rooms. Both of these rooms have a separate access to the street, and one can be screened off using sliding doors.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_6.jpg)
Both spaces have also have access to a large garage to the rear of the property, which features a translucent doors, exposed brickwork and is used to store the client's red Ford Mustang car.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_7.jpg)
On the first floor, an open-plan living room, dining space and kitchen wrap two sides of the stairwell in an L-shaped arrangement, while a bathroom, laundry room and bedroom occupy a corresponding space on the others.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_11.jpg)
Original ceiling trusses are exposed across the ceiling, with a set of new skylights set in between. But part of the roof has been boxed in to store electrical and mechanical services, creating a zigzagging form.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_9.jpg)
"To draw light and ventilation into what is a poorly oriented and deep footprint, an extensive number of operable skylights were introduced on the north- and south-facing roof pitches," explained the architects, "and a large void connecting the ground and first floor was strategically positioned to also take advantage of this amenity."
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_10.jpg)
The skylights correspond with the glazed ceiling and wall of the primary bathroom, which is contained in a white house-shaped volume that give it privacy from the staircase.
Other rooms have a more flexible layout, which can be joined or separated from the living space with white sliding doors.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_5.jpg)
A ladder fixed to the same runners as the doors leads up to a space in the apex of the pitched roof.
"What are conventionally regarded as cellular and isolated spaces within a house are imbued with a sense that they are provisional areas that can form part of the open plan or be used for more private purposes," said the team.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_4.jpg)
The gabled roof of the garage can be seen peeking above a terrace placed adjacent to the upper floor space.
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath_dezeen_936_1.jpg)
The inner-city suburb of Fitzroy North is primarily comprised of single- and double-storey Victorian and Edwardian buildings, many of which have been converted or restored into housing in recent years.
Melbourne studio Nic Owen Architects designed a striking steel and glass extension that is hidden behind the ornamental facade of one Victorian terrace in the area, while local office BLOXAS borrowed elements from Japanese architecture to create a periscope-shaped addition for a home overlooked by a red brick factory.
Photography is by Shannon McGrath.
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Project credits:
Architecture: Andrew Simpson Architects
Project team: Andrew Simpson (principle), Emma Parkinson
Builder: Overend Constructions
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath-ground-floor-plan_dezeen_0.gif)
![Water Factory by Andrew Simpson Architects](https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2016/03/water-factory-andrew-simpson-architects-residential-house-melbourne-australia-shannon-mcgrath-first-floor-plan_dezeen_1.gif)
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