Preston House is a concrete extension to an existing weatherboard home. 

Eco Outdoor Melbourne was a ‘fixture’ on Church Street in Richmond. But after many years, it was time to make a move – to a 1920s warehouse-style red brick building, also in Richmond. Once used as a mechanics warehouse that serviced prestige cars, it’s now a showcase for Eco Outdoor products – with over 100 different materials and items thoughtfully displayed over 1,000 square metres.

Although the original heritage-listed façade and timber trusses remain, there’s little else that remains of this 1920s warehouse, complete with its soar tooth roof – even the highlight windows are new, redesigned to allow for both cross-ventilation, purging hot air during the warmer months and increasing the natural light. However, there’s still a sense of the past with a number of the internal brick walls retained – but opened up to allow for more fluid spaces.

Some of the strategic design moves included creating two mezzanine areas at either end of the warehouse, with clear balustrades that allow for transparency from one end of the warehouse to the other. With a brief to use as many different Eco Outdoor products as possible, the direction was to simulate the outdoor settings found in one’s home, be this a detached house, a townhouse, an apartment or another typology. So, rather than carving up spaces, there are settings that suggest possibilities – an outdoor setting for example, with an open fireplace at the centre of the arrangement. And instead of turf, there’s a circular ‘carpet’ made from various stone fragments that allow customers to see the choices of what stone to use for their own outdoor spaces. Other settings are framed by feature stone walls, with chaise lounges suggesting a swimming pool beyond – or perhaps a concealed tennis court.

Pivotal to the design is the open kitchen, with its in-situ concrete bench and bar stools that allow for special evenings and events. For those who can’t quite envisage what certain materials or furniture will look like in their own settings, the new Eco Outdoor Melbourne showroom is perfectly suited. And while it may not be in the same league as the Sydney Opera House, there’s a sculpture at the entrance by Mika Utzon Popov, grandson of the Opera House designer, Jorn Utzon, that’s been thoughtfully illuminated via an oculus.

Words by Stephen Crafti

Rosie represents a thoughtful two-storey extension to a historic Victorian weatherboard home nestled in Ascot Vale, Melbourne.

Originally hindered by a poorly constructed and dim rear, disconnected from the backyard, the project aimed to address these shortcomings.

Tailored for a young family, the design focuses on present and future needs, prioritising thermal efficiency, natural light and enhancing connectivity to the outdoors.

The ground floor features three bedrooms, a study, bathroom, laundry, and a spacious open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area seamlessly integrated with the backyard garden. Upstairs, a generous north-facing roof terrace complements a second living space and the master bedroom suite.

Further defining the exterior spaces, the site is book-ended by a compact yet functional storage area with a sunken outdoor entertainment zone.

Rosie manages to achieve a harmonious blend of contemporary living needs and the enduring charm of its heritage character. By revitalizing the home’s functionality and aesthetic appeal, the project not only enhances the family’s daily life but also enriches the neighbourhood fabric with its considered design approach.

Situated amongst nature in the city, Carlton Apartment redesign breathes new contemporary life and light into an old Melbourne home. The clever use of joinery along with the reorientation of rooms to embrace surrounding gardens, creates a functional home that echoes the owners need for versatile and reflective spaces.

The ageing apartment needed to be realigned with the owner’s needs, giving it new purpose and usability. The idea was to create a reflective and calm space that incorporates nature and takes advantage of the position alongside Carlton Gardens. A small space to work within, there was a need to maximise available floorspace through integrated joinery, to create a new home office as well as maximise storage.

Light was a significant factor in determining materials. Being a south facing apartment, it had a tendency towards darkness. We chose a light colour palette that included white stone, light grey joinery, and oak flooring to help draw much needed natural brightness into the space. Mirrors were also utilised in the kitchen and bathroom to help amplify lightness as well as give a sense of additional space.

A new certified Passive House for a young family.

Under construction.

Set in the small Victorian town of Darraweit Guim, this family home is strategically elevated above the flood plain, granting panoramic views that sweep across the picturesque landscape, following the winding creek that defines the property’s northern boundary.

The building is broken up into two distinct zones; an open living area to the north, with bedrooms and bathrooms to the south, all linked by a robust concrete blockwork spine that running the length of the building.

Outdoor spaces are thoughtfully interspersed throughout the design, extending from the main living quarters. These areas offer a seamless transition between indoor and outdoor living, encouraging residents to bask in the serene rural surroundings while maintaining the comforts of home.

Nestled in the charming neighborhood of Port Melbourne, Esplanade House is designed to create a bold statement amongst its natural surroundings. Its perfect location on a corner site adjacent to Edwards Park, allows uninterrupted botanical views whilst creating the sense of security and privacy of an intimate home.

Esplanade House introduces a unique twist to traditional floor levels, with a thoughtful reversal that enhances the living experience. The kitchen, living and dining spaces are strategically positioned on the first floor, capitalizing on the views of the picturesque park. This innovative arrangement invites residents to bask in the beauty of nature from the heart of their home, creating an immersive atmosphere among the tree canopy.

Upon entering Esplanade House, one is greeted by a timber clad hallway leading to a private courtyard, creating an oasis where residents can enjoy the beauty of nature without compromising their privacy. Hidden doors within the hallway cladding lead to three large guest bedrooms, that are easily concealed when not in use.

Esplanade House celebrates the connection between the interior and exterior through a series of carefully designed outdoor areas. A private terrace, accessible from the first-floor living area, provides an idyllic setting for alfresco dining and entertaining. Landscaped gardens envelop the property, offering residents a tranquil retreat where they can immerse themselves in the beauty of the park while enjoying the utmost privacy.

Overlooking Victoria’s Southern Ocean and a stone’s throw from Anglesea surf beach sits this minimal streamlined house. The home’s simple modernist form evokes many of the 1950s and ‘60s beach houses in the coastal township. For the clients, a couple with adult children and an extended family, it was an opportunity to create a place as much as share an experience with family and friends.

The former 1970s two-storey house on the 720-square-metre site had passed its use-by date and failed to provide sufficient accommodation. It also failed to fully connect with either the water views or the back garden. And given the house was perched towards the crest of the site (with a fall to the street of approximately three metres), there was also the issue of privacy.

While there wasn’t a vision for the house, the owners were fond of post-war modernist houses and also keen to rekindle some of the memories from a former beach house – a simple fairly rudimentary shack with some of the bedrooms only accessed via an outdoor deck. Unlike this shack, the new two-storey house, approximately 350 square metres in area, is constructed in charred timber and glass with feature sandstone walls. It was also conceived as an H-plan with two courtyards on either side – the primary courtyard allowing protection from the prevailing winds while still benefiting from the panoramic views.

At ground level, there’s the point of entry along with a bunk room that can also function as a rumpus room for the grandchildren. And on the first floor is the open plan kitchen, dining and living area that allows the family to congregate around the kitchen’s in-situ concrete island bench. As well as three bedrooms, including a guest bedroom, there’s the main bedroom and ensuite, benefiting from direct access to the terrace. Pivotal to the design is the main courtyard garden, designed by Eckersley Garden Architecture. Eckersley Architects complemented the parred back design by using a limited palette of materials. Spotted gum was used for the ceilings, Solid French oak for the kitchen joinery and limestone for all the floors (including bedrooms) that extend to the courtyard terraces and the walkway leading to two of the secondary bedrooms. Additional natural stone in the courtyard, arranged as crazy paving, adds to the home’s mid-century feel, with three mature olive trees adding to a sense of calm and tranquillity.

Words by Stephen Crafti

Maddie is a two-storey extension to an existing Victorian terrace house located Richmond, Melbourne. The brief was to transform a dark, south facing, two storey dwelling into a light filled, spacious, 3 bedroom family home that would provide a greater connection to the outdoors, whilst respectfully responds to the strict heritage & design overlays. We took inspiration from the existing heritage façade and repurposed the original brick into the new extension.

Located directly opposite a leafy park, Harry is a modern, single-level addition to an existing Victorian weatherboard in Melbourne’s inner-city suburb, Abbotsford.

The existing lean-to was dark, cold and damp so the brief was to maximise space on the small block, whilst also giving a sense of openness and connection to the external courtyard.

Double height living space with floor to ceiling windows looking out to the rear courtyard floods the interior in natural light achieving a sense of grandeur is such a small footprint.

The building form was heavily influenced by its neighbouring properties – a two-storey dwelling to the north and a single level dwelling with minimal outdoor space to the south. Abbie acts as the bridge between the two opposing building sizes, sitting equally adjacent to both boundary walls and successfully causing minimal shadowing to the southern neighbour.

Hughesdale House is a single level extension to an existing Victorian weatherboard with a twist. The brief for the project was to design an open living space that connects to the large backyard as well as providing the necessary additional space required for a growing young family. The old house had a lean-to attachment that blocked any visual or physical connection to the generous backyard.

Strategic positioning of skylights highlights the custom joinery, whilst flooding the interior in natural light. Robust materials of concrete, natural stone and timber were selected for their durability and low maintenance characteristics.

The extension has also been designed with its future in mind by allowing the owners the flexibility to add a second level above if, and when they feel appropriate. The floorplan provides a placeholder space for a future stair run to be incorporated along with over-engineered structure already in place ready for the second floor to be added. This was done in part due to budget constraints, along with not having the immediate need for the extra floor space.