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                    Additions

                    Illustration representing additions to a heritage building
                    Understand heritage policy as it relates to additions.

                    Additions in a heritage precinct

                    It is policy to: 

                    Ensure additions to buildings in a heritage precinct are respectful of and in keeping with:

                    • 'Key attributes’ of the heritage precinct, as identified in the precinct Statement of Significance.
                    • Precinct characteristics including building height, massing and form; style and architectural expression; details; materials; front and side setbacks; and orientation.
                    • Character and appearance of nearby significant and contributory buildings. 
                    • Where abutting a lane, the scale and form of heritage fabric as it presents to the lane.

                    Figure 9: Additions in a heritage precinct

                    Diagram showing a heritage precinct with additions that are respectful to the scale and form of heritage fabric to the lane; in keeping with the key attributes of the precinct, and an example of additions that are not respectful of the precinct characteristics with much higher building heights and varied achitectural expression
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                    Modern addition to the Equity Trustees Company six-storey heritage building. set back from the street.
                    The commercial addition to the original heritage building uses materials and architectural expression that are respectful of precinct characteristics.
                    Equity Chambers (Digital render), Bourke Street, Melbourne
                    Design team: Bates Smart
                    Photo credit: Bates Smart

                    Additions to significant or contributory buildings

                    It is policy to:

                    Ensure additions to significant or contributory buildings:

                    • Are respectful of the building’s character and appearance, scale, materials, style and architectural expression.
                    • Do not visually dominate or visually disrupt the appreciation of the building as it presents to the street.
                    • Maintain the prominence of the building by setting back the addition behind the front or principal part of the building, and from other visible part.
                    • Do not build over or extend into the air space directly above the front or principal part of the building. 
                    • Retain significant roof form within the setback from the building façade together with roof elements of original fabric.
                    • Do not obscure views of façades or elevations associated with the front or principal part of the building.
                    • Are distinguishable from the original fabric of the building.

                    Front or principal part of a building

                    The front or principal part of a building is generally considered to be the front two rooms in depth, complete with the structure and cladding to the roof; or that part of the building associated with the primary roof form, whichever is the greater. For residential buildings this is generally 8-10 metres in depth.

                    For most non-residential buildings, the front or principal part is generally considered to be one full structural bay in depth complete with the structure and cladding to the roof or generally 8-10 metres in depth.

                    For corner sites, the front or principal part of a building includes the side street elevation. 

                    For sites with more than one street frontage, the front or principal part of a building may relate to each street frontage.

                    Figure 10: Additions to significant or contributory buildings

                    Illustraion showing examples of (1) an addition that is distinguishablefrom the original fabric of the building, respectful of the buildings character and appearance and retaining significant roof form, and (2) a building that visually dominatesand disrupts the appreciation of the building as it presents to the street, and the addition builds over and extends into the air space directly above the front or principal part of the building.
                    View larger image

                    Outside of the CCZ: Additions in a significant streetscape

                    ​Ensure additions are:​

                    • Concealed in significant streetscapes for significant or contributory buildings. 
                    • For ground level additions to the side of the building, set back behind the front or principal part of the building.
                    • All additions to corner properties may be visible, but should be respectful of the significant or contributory building in terms of scale and placement, and not dominate or diminish the prominence of the building or adjoining contributory or significant building.
                    Concealed
                    Concealed means cannot be seen from a street (other than a lane, unless the lane has heritage value) or public park.

                    ​Figure 11: Additions outside the CCZ in a significant streetscape

                    Diagrams showing examples of how additions can be fully concealed or visible from ground level; and for corner properties how additions may be visible if they don't dominate or diminsh the prominence of the building.

                    Outside of the CCZ: Additions in other streetscapes

                    Ensure additions are:

                    • ​​Concealed in other streetscapes for significant buildings, for a second-storey addition to a single storey building, concealment is often achieved by setting back the addition at least 8 metres behind the front façade.
                    • Partly concealed in other streetscapes for contributory buildings, which means that some of the addition may be visible, provided it does not dominate or reduce the prominence of the building’s façade(s) and the streetscape.
                    • For ground level additions to the side of a building, set back behind the front or principal part of the building.​
                    Partly concealed
                    Partly concealed means that some of the addition or higher rear part may be visible provided it does not visually dominate or reduce the prominence of the existing building's facade(s) in the street.

                    ​Figure 12: Additions outside the CCZ in other streetscapes

                    Diagram showing examples in other streetscapes of additions to significant buildings that are fully concealed from ground level, and additions to contributory buildings that are partly concealed.

                    Back view of a modern two-storey extension to a single storey heritage terrace, alongside the front view of the house from where the extension is not visible at all.

                    The rear addition to single storey weatherboard terrace house is fully concealed from the streetscape.
                    House on Mills Street, Albert Park (Mills, the toy management house)
                    Design team: Austin Maynard Architects
                    Photo credit: Peter Bennetts

                    Design guidelines

                    Ensure the design of additions:

                    • Adopt high quality and respectful contextual design.
                    • Avoid direct reproduction of the form of historic fabric.
                    • Adopt an interpretive design approach to other details such as verandahs, fences, and shopfronts.

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