Modernist pod house in Newtown for sale after major thermal upgrade – realestate.com.au

A space-age modernist home that has intrigued locals since the year man first walked on the moon has hit the market opposite Newtown’s Barwon River.

The pioneering pod was one of the first residential buildings outside Melbourne to be built from a thin shell of reinforced concrete.

Described as having an interior straight out of The Jetsons when it was 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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Jackson Wilson, agent at Kardinia Property, said the sellers had invested a significant amount of money to improve the thermal performance of the 1969 house.

One of the owners, part of a three-way family partnership, said they loved the home’s quirky character but realized it needed some serious behind-the-scenes work after her cousin shivered during the first winter he lived there.

“It’s a cute little house, but over time it became thermally dysfunctional and it just became way too cold to live in,” she said.

“That started us in the story of renovating and modernizing.”

Curved feature throughout the renovated home.

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One of the current owners, Rich Jones, pictured after purchasing the property at auction in 2018.

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The open plan living area is connected to a north-facing terrace and lawn.

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The trio had to look for a specific insulation product that could be installed in the curved bedroom capsule.

They also stripped the structure back to the original concrete for resealing and installed double glazing.

Inside, the main living wing now features polished concrete floors and tiered ceilings.

“When we bought it, it had kind of a Jetsons ’60s look inside and out because it was all painted white, so that’s changed to a more contemporary aesthetic,” the seller said.

“It’s ready 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 visible from the living room.

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An included photo of the mold used to build the house. Photo: Stephen Harman

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Mr Wilson said the front row position in Barwon River was a huge asset to the $1.15 million listing.

“It takes in the beautiful views of the canopy and the river and it would just be a really easy place to live in,” he said.

“It is suitable for anyone who doesn’t feel like working, but it does have that unique aspect.”