Two-faced: Home transformations hidden from street view
Houses that look different from the front to the back
Looks can be deceiving, especially when it come to exterior of a house. These homes contrast the old with the new and show a clash of styles that work together. It just goes to show, you should never judge a house by its façade.
Art House
When you first lay eyes on this home with its traditional façade, you don't imagine the back to be much different. Melbourne-based NTF Architecture preserved the front façade for visual effect and also to emphasise the contrast between the traditional frontice and the extension at the back of the house.
Art House
At the rear of the property, a monochrome extension shows a modern, minimal interior - revealing the true style of this incredible family home. Known as the Art House, the wooden cladding and expanse of glass on the back wall provides a completely different look to the traditional red brick at the front.
Breakspears House
The facade of this new build by Gruff Limited sits in harmony with the rest of this typical London street by accurately mirroring the period details, such as the bay windows.
Breakspears House
Even though still designed in London stock brick, the design has been modernised with huge windows, to provide the owners with bright naturally lit spaces.
The Cloud House
This double fronted Edwardian House in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, consists of three different parts inside. Designed by McBride Charles Ryan, the front of the house has its original white façade, with the owners wanting to respect the style of other properties in the area around them.
The Cloud House
However the back of the house is a spectacle. The living and dining area have been designed under a cloud like roof that gives a fun and playful effect, in total contrast to its front.
House LS
Due to local restrictions, this house in Brussels could only be altered slightly at the front, so the owners chose to paint it white.
House LS
But the back of the house has a completely different approach. The swimming pool is framed by an illuminating wall. Two sculptural white volumes were added by dmvA Architects to give a modern look but also to connect the inside and outside. The theme is kept constant by using white on all the facades.
Janus House
Kennerly Architecture remodelled this 4,300 square foot Victorian-style home for a family of five. The original façade was simply restored, while the back was completely transformed.
Janus House
The dilapidated back installed with glass walls, helping to bring in the natural light. A glass and steel deck cantilevers out 10 feet, which extends the second floor kitchen, family room and dining room level over the garden. The design brings a modern face to the garden and private driveway.
Mcmahons Point
From the street, this Australian home is a typical, traditional abode. However, architect Stanic Harding transformed the back façade of this split-level home.
Mcmahons Point
The back has been turned into a magnificently modern extension that passers by would never be able to tell was there. Complete with steel panels on the top floor and modern white cladding below, the interiors has been kept user friendly for the traditional occupants.
11 Dennis Road
The street-side façade of this 1983 waterfront house in Old Lynne, Connecticut, channels a classic colonial mansion with its extended front and elevated foundations.
11 Dennis Road
Sitting behind the ho-hum front lies a modern shiny cube. The walls of glass make the most of the property's views, with the modern deck and garden leading down to a secluded beach..
Cabbage Town residence
Located in Toronto's Cabbage Town neighbourhood, Dubbledam Architectures' aim was to create a contemporary addition and renovation to this 100-year-old home, while also fulfilling the requirements of the Toronto Historical Board.
Cabbage Town residence
The new addition to the rear is boldly modern compared to the front. Using mainly glass, the exterior takes advantage of the home's southern orientation, allowing light to flood in.
Bilateral House
The owners of this 116-year-old period revival home, located in a mature picturesque neighbourhood of Toronto, wanted to keep the front half of the original house but change the back with a new design.
Bilateral House
Architects, Audax, restored the front façade with brick, stucco and wood trim. These materials were then used on the new rear addition to tie both designs together, with black metal being introduced on the back to make the look more contemporary.