Monolith Builders constructed the concrete pod house at 2 Ardlui Drive, Newtown, in 1969.
A space age Modernist home that’s intrigued locals since the year man first walked on the moon has hit the market opposite the Barwon River in Newtown.
The groundbreaking pod was one of the first residential houses outside Melbourne constructed from a thin reinforced concrete shell.
Described as having an interior straight out of The Jetsons when it last sold in 2018, 2 Ardlui Drive has since been sympathetically renovated to reflect its status as a building of state architectural significance.
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Kardinia Property listing agent Jackson Wilson said the vendors had invested a substantial amount of money to improve the 1969 home’s thermal performance.
One of the owners, part of three-way family partnership, said they loved the home’s quirky character but realised it needed serious behind-the scenes work after her cousin shivered through his first winter living there.
“It is a cute little house but over time it just wasn’t thermally performing and it was just far too cold to live in,” she said.
“That started us on the saga of renovated and updating.”
Curved feature throughout the renovated home.
One of the current owners, Rich Jones, pictured after purchasing the property at auction in 2018.
The open-plan living room links to a north-facing deck and lawn.
The trio had to hunt down a specific insulation product that could be installed in the curved bedroom pod.
They also stripped the structure back to its original concrete for resealing and installed double glazing.
Inside, the main living wing now features polished concrete floors and ply ceilings.
“When we purchased it was sort of that Jetsons ’60s look inside and out because it was all painted white so that has changed to a more contemporary aesthetics,” the vendor said.
“It is ready to go for the next person and we can put our hands on our hearts that it’s as good as it can be.”
The Barwon River is in view from the lounge room.
A supplied picture of the mould used to build the house. Picture: Stephen Harman
Mr Wilson said the front row Barwon River position was a huge asset for the $1.15m listing.
“It takes in the beautiful canopy view and river view and it would just a really easy place to live in,” he said.
“It suits anyone who doesn’t want to be bothered with any work but it has that unique aspect to it.”
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