The post-war brick home is often seen as the ‘ugly duckling’ of the architectural world.

Built throughout Australia from the 1940s until around the 1980s, these humble houses are not quite as elegant as an old Victorian, nor as rare as a mid-century modern gem. They’re also tricky to modernise. The obvious option is to cover the exterior up with render and call it a day, or even to rebuild from scratch.

But Fellows House by JAK Architecture proves how a smart renovation can transform these suburban structures into something pretty special.

Director Jackson Wylie and his team were engaged by two families from the Yarra Valley to turn the single-storey, post-war home in Point Lonsdale into a shared beach house retreat.

‘As per an excerpt from our client’s brief, the existing bricks, tiles and guttering were “pretty uninteresting and a little bit ugly”, but they also wanted to be honest and true to these materials,’ Jackson says.

‘We realised the source of this “ugliness” was in the overall composition of these existing materials, and that each material could become a feature. Our intention was to find a way to reinvent the tired red bricks.’

Both the owners and architects agreed the facade and tiled hip roof needed to be retained and given a ‘facelift’ in a bid to embrace its quirks.

The metal guttering, flashings and cappings were replaced with updated versions in a deep red hue, while new striped window awnings and complementary brown bricks from Bowral were introduced in a stack-bond pattern to enhance the existing facade.

At the rear, the living spaces now spill out to an alfresco dining area with a butterfly roof, reminiscent of architect Peter McIntyre’s Butterfly House — a Kew home famous for its bold colour and experimental forms that bucked conservative trends of the early post-war period.

‘Peter has been a big inspiration to our studio, as two of our team members worked under him prior to starting JAK,’ Jackson adds.

The interior on the other hand had to be completely stripped back and reconfigured to accommodate both families.

Consolidating the original kitchen, living and dining rooms into one open-plan space meant the former sitting room could be converted into a large bunk bed room for the clients’ children, as the building envelope was expanded by just 22 square metres.

‘The existing dwelling had some bold colours throughout, such as the orange seen in the kitchen. We wanted to highlight and accentuate this in the new design,’ Jackson says.

The dynamic colour palette varies as you move through the house. Muted terracotta-toned joinery and hardwood floors fill the shared spaces with warmth. One en suite glows as light reflects on the yellow tiles, while the other reveals a serene green theme.

‘Point Lonsdale is a small coastal town where the population fluctuates significantly due to the seasons,’ Jackson notes.

‘Summer is lively and vibrant, whereas winter is cold, sleepy and quiet. Our intention was to create a space that encourages our client to spend time in Point Lonsdale no matter the season.’

The end result is inviting — a place where the owners can recharge and make memories. It also makes a statement: there’s an underrated beauty within post-war brick homes that shouldn’t be overlooked.

‘Post-war brick houses are robust and durable and will last well beyond a human lifetime,’ Jackson adds.

‘Our intention, where possible, is to find a way to retain these materials to avoid unnecessary waste. And we believe most “ugly” materials can be made beautiful with the right detailing.’

A version of this story first appeared in The Design Files Magazine Issue 03.