Adding or renovating in North Fitzroy, North Carlton and other inner areas with a heritage overlay: Consider the policy issues

Sighting guidelines for the design of upper storey additions. This diagram is a consideration in assessing any heritage impact, but is no longer included in the planning scheme as a specific requirement.Design of upper storey additions

Yarra Council on heritage

“.. to keep a sense of history and place, as reflected by streetscapes, shops and houses, as well as how to pay tribute to the lived history and heritage, connecting with the stories and experiences of those who came before us and shaped the character of Yarra”.

Heritage place

The cultural significance of existing buildings has been assessed and graded according to their contribution and context to the broader heritage area. There are 3 grades - individually significant, contributory, or non-contributory.

Contributory building

Policy encourages retention of contributory elements, and the removal of inappropriate existing elements. Contributory elements are not only confined to those visible from the street, but can include other elements that are deemed to contribute to the heritage place.

Design requirements

• Respect the pattern, rhythm, orientation, spatial characteristics, fenestration, roof form, materials and other heritage characteristics of the surrounding historic streetscape
• Maintain the prominence of significant and contributory elements. New work should be visually recessive and not compete or dominate the heritage place
• Maintain principal heritage façades
• Avoid removal, covering or changing original historic fabric. Restore where relevant
• Respect the heritage scale. Avoid additions which are taller unless appropriately set back or concealed
• Retain the building’s 3-dimensional heritage form
• Setback new work to a minimum depth of two front rooms so as to retain the original heritage fabric
• Set back roof terraces/roof decks so that they are concealed from view, and a minimum of one metre from chimneys and parapets

Heritage elements

Individual elements that contribute to the heritage significance:

• Pattern, proportion and spacing of elements on an elevation
• Orientation to the street
• Setbacks
• Street wall
• Relationship between solid and void
• Roof form
• Chimneys
• Verandahs and canopies
• Materials

Heritage facades

Avoid the following in heritage facades:

New openings
• Enlarging existing openings
• New floor plates, walls, columns or structural supports cutting through openings
• Highly reflective glazing in historic openings (not including solar panels)
• Large expanses of glazing with a horizontal emphasis, except for ground floor shop fronts
• Unarticulated curtain glazing
• Balconies in historic openings