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<\/p>\nEvery now and then, a home comes along that\u2019s anything but typical.<\/p>\n
The Bolt house on Gidabal Street in Aranda, with its quintessentially modernist exterior, is an unassuming presence, abound with possibility. Nestled elegantly on an elevated block, the property\u2019s roots are firmly grounded as one of Canberra\u2019s most distinctive homes.<\/p>\n
Designed by iconic mid-century modern architect Dirk Bolt and constructed in 1967, this home was one of many freestanding dwellings designed in the 6 years Bolt lived in Canberra.<\/p>\n
Bolt\u2019s stunning designs find the desirable middle ground between extremes and often create an effortless flow between contrasting materials and spaces, and this Aranda home is no exception.<\/p>\n
Originally, designed for a public servant who was set to move to Canberra but who never actually arrived, the Aranda home was purchased by Anne Willsford in 1984. Anne\u2019s appreciation for modernist design and love for the area meant she would occupy the home for the next 37 years.<\/p>\n
Unfortunately, with passing time, Anne was unable to maintain the property as well as she would have liked, and when the time came to sell her home, Anne was hesitant to put it out to market.<\/p>\n
Being in a highly sought-after area and needing major rectification works, Anne was concerned potential buyers would knock down the historic home. Protecting this culturally significant building (by finding the right buyers to continue the legacy of the property) was important to Anne.<\/p>\n
Sally from home.by holly appreciated Anne\u2019s desire to preserve this important piece of Canberra\u2019s history. She worked closely with buyer and seller to ensure both parties experienced a smooth transaction. Sally\u2019s customised approach to the sale of this unique property meant that Anne was able to comfortably part with her home, eventually selling it to newlyweds Elle Cobanov and Chris Coombe, who instantly fell in love with it.<\/p>\n
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With their intention to restore the property to its former glory\u2014the interior designer and builder duo were the perfect buyers. Seeing an abundance of potential in the property, Elle and Chris plan to bring the house back to life.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just fell in love with so many elements of the property,\u201d Elle said. \u201cThe iconic Canberra mid-century design, with the flat roof, timber features, the blockwork, was exactly what we were looking for. Plus, it needed a lot of love and we\u2019re in the perfect position to do it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Elle and Chris will keep as much of the original design, footprint and fa\u00e7ade as possible, with slight modernisation and modification work, while undertaking a full structural revitalisation.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt does need a lot of work structurally, but we\u2019re up for the challenge. It\u2019s going to be a real labour of love to keep it authentic\u2014we\u2019re even keeping the custom shoe racks from inside the robes\u2014to make sure we preserve the legacy of Bolt\u2019s beautiful design,\u201d Elle said.<\/p>\n
Architect Shannon Battisson (The Mill Architecture) will assist with architectural advice for this exciting renewal project.<\/p>\n
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\u201cArchitecture of the mid-century period is in a precarious position right now. Serious investment in their maintenance\u2014and a need to bring them up to current standards of living and environmental performance\u2014rests awkwardly alongside the fact that these buildings are not yet considered old enough to be heritage,\u201d Shannon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s vital that, wherever possible, these properties are given a new lease on life, and remain part of Canberra\u2019s next chapter. Considered renovation and adaption will ensure we don\u2019t find ourselves wishing that we\u2019d held on to an important part of our heritage.\u201d<\/p>\n
Shannon noted that the Aranda home is a perfect opportunity to preserve an important part of Canberra\u2019s history and loves getting to know these buildings in fine detail.<\/p>\n
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\u201cThe house has a beautiful relationship to both the land around it and to the incredible views across Canberra.\u00a0My favourite spaces are definitely the sun drenched living spaces and the wonderful enclosed verandah,\u201d Shannon said.<\/p>\n
\u201cI find immense satisfaction in seeing these buildings standing proudly after our work is done, knowing that they will live on with a new family to appreciate them.\u201d<\/p>\n
From Sally\u2019s perspective, maintaining the historical significance of such an important moment in design history, while getting to know her clients are the highlights of her job.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s an incredibly rewarding experience connecting passionate buyers and sellers with an appreciation for MCM design. In this instance, the sales process was quiet, and without the typical fanfare and public exposure\u2014finding the perfect buyer was paramount,\u201d Sally said.<\/p>\n
Sally is a property specialist in Aranda and has an unwavering passion for mid-century modern design. She often comes across beautifully designed homes that need a little love, just like this one.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe thing I enjoy most about working in Aranda is discovering these older, architectural gems. The opportunity to play a key role in ensuring this important legacy continues is a big part of why I love what I do,\u201d Sally said.<\/p>\n
While the refurbishment will be a large undertaking, there\u2019s no doubt this home will be one of Bolt\u2019s most significant works in Canberra for many years to come. It is indeed a mid-century modern marvel.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Every now and then, a home comes along that\u2019s anything but typical. The Bolt house on Gidabal Street in Aranda, with its quintessentially modernist exterior, is an unassuming presence, abound with possibility. Nestled elegantly on an elevated block, the property\u2019s roots are firmly grounded as one of Canberra\u2019s most distinctive homes. Designed by iconic mid-century […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41635","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n