Holding On to History
Melbourne’s streets are wondrous and filled with character, lined with many buildings constructed in the last two centuries. These older buildings speak to our past and our heritage and have become an integral part of Melbourne’s identity and soul. However, being of a certain vintage, such buildings are prone to structural issues and time’s wear-and-tear and may be in dire need of repair. Restoring a property is a rewarding way of creating your dream home without sacrificing its existing charm. Melbourne Home Design + Living’s Gemma Thomas speaks with Patrick McDowell, owner of McDowell Building & Construction, to discover the ins and outs of renovating old and heritage buildings and what it takes to breathe new life into some classic architectural styles.
“It was never my intention to become a builder,” says McDowell, “but I am not one to stop from upskilling.” Patrick McDowell became a builder thanks to the push from a former mentor who suggested that McDowell become a registered builder and join the trade. “The progression into doing more heritage projects just happened,” he says. “Someone asked regarding a small terrace in Carlton and I said yes!” Since then, McDowell has built a huge portfolio of experience, working on many restoration and heritage-listed projects in and around Melbourne. “Typically, I try to give all clients as much information and knowledge about building their project,” he says of maintaining his client base.
PRESERVE AND PLAN
Restoring heritage properties is a meticulous process that demands a blend of preservation and innovation. For McDowell, the journey begins with a thorough understanding of the structure’s historical significance and architectural nuances.
In the initial stages, the focus is on gathering com prehensive information. “With restorations we need to understand the overall scope. Are we restoring the entire house inside and out? Is this a heritage protected building? Generally speaking, the plans will have all the required documentation relating to the restoration,” McDowell explains.
Whether tasked with revitalising an entire historical house or preserving specific heritage-protected elements, such as intricate woodwork or ornate facades, the process relies on detailed documentation and planning. “Depending on the extent of the restoration, every process can be different. Some jobs have strict rules set by Heritage Council Victoria and other projects may not be heritage listed, so it’s up to the clients or designers if they choose to restore and replicate or modernise,” McDowell states. “The restoration process in some instances is two steps forward and three to five steps back. Restoration is all about preparation.”
LIVING IN THE PAST AND PRESENT
The restoration process is all about honouring the past while incorporating contemporary needs for comfortable living. Collaboration with clients is a must to provide this balance. “We are big on communication throughout every project – a must for restoration projects. There can be so many minor details that make up the overall finish. When the clients are involved, they get to see firsthand how much work, skill and knowledge goes into their home,” McDowell says.
Knowing how to balance new features for functionality in a classic home setting is imperative as it can be tricky to harmonise aesthetics. “Most of the houses will have modern kitchens, bathrooms, hydronic heating, air-conditioning, security and data. How these are incorporated into a ‘classic home’ would be dependent on the clients or designer,” McDowell explains. “We typically like to hide as much as possible such as having aircon vents concealed in bulkheads or in a ceiling, ensuring all services don’t impact the internal aesthetics,” he adds.
Although a home may have an old soul, modern standards are applied to restoration projects to ensure sustainability, something that wasn’t as thought of in the past. “We encourage upcycling as much as possible. Keeping certain items for replication and reuse such as cornices, rosettes, stair posts and balustrade,” McDowell suggests. “Sometimes we get the pleasure of using the materials from the demo (such as a wall) to create timber privacy screens or balustrade. Larger beams can become shelfs. Anything worth keeping we will give away or aim to reuse in the building. The restoration process I would say is sustainable.”
Restorations are the perfect opportunity for a creative workout, it becomes a challenge to maintain an authentic soul and style by reusing and repurposing old materials, but the end result is the ultimate achievement for both builders and designers. When an old vintage home is preserved for a new generation, it truly is a work of art.
THE HEART OF RESTORATION
From navigating strict heritage regulations to uncovering unforeseen structural issues, each project presents unique hurdles, but it’s the result that makes it all worthwhile.
“Every job has its challenges,” McDowell states. “Sometimes you can have a home in amazing condition and the challenges are minor, on the other end you can uncover problems everywhere. We typically go over common issues with clients at an early stage prior to quoting. The most common are timber Subfloors – they are never level and are usually falling apart considering they are usually 150 plus years old. Internal brick walls are usually a single skin of brick and are prone to having large cracks,” McDowell explains.
“People purchase these homes because they love the character and want to retain it,” McDowell says. It is this exact reason as to why the challenges of restoration are worth it. Seeing client’s feel completely at home and have a unique house that is a perfect fit for their personal style, is what puts the beauty in restoration. “We have worked on some terrible buildings and to see the result is awesome. Being able to continue the history of a building makes me feel proud. I love it all,” McDowell expresses.
Talking to your builder about the project and making sure there’s transparency throughout the entire process ensures that any issues that arise are made aware of and dealt with . There may be some challenges along the way, but as McDowell says, “restoring the past is a wonderful experience.”
