Melbourne Victoria, Australia Home Melbourne Homes from Melbourne that have been previously featured on Lunchbox Architect Paling Fence House by NASA Paling Fence House: Fitting a Home in the Backyard Proves a Challenge Paling Fence House by NASA (National Architecture Space Agency) manages to fit a modern and spacious family home into an Australian suburban backyard. Lightbox House by Edwards Moore Architects Lightbox House: Perforated Floor Not as Terrifying as It Sounds Lightbox House by Edwards Moore Architects transforms a cramped and dark terrace into a light, bright wonder. Perforated floor, translucent ceiling and all. Jack and Jill House by Breathe Architects Jack and Jill House: No Crowns Were Broken in the Making of This House Level changes in this home inspired its name, Jack and Jill House. It has fairytale-esque fun by the bucketful -- and not a broken crown to be seen... Cross Stitch House by FMD Architects Cross Stitch House: Stitching Together the Past and the Present FMD Architects have taken a tread from their client's brief and stitched the old and new together in this clever home extension, Cross Stitch House. Pump House by Branch Studio Architects Pump House: A Compact Off-Grid Home for Simple Living Pump House is a compact, off-grid home for simple living. Owners and guests can enjoy a quiet night, a cup of tea and quality time with their horse, George. Victoria Road House by Fiona Winzar Architects Victoria Road House: Colorful Addition Offers a Taste of India Victoria Road House is a long way from India, but saturated color, radiating patterns and gold metalwork bring an Indian flavor to this surprising addition. Jack's House by FMD Architects Jack's House: A House Bursting at the Seams Gets a New Timber 'Gusset A moderate extension creates a rich space and leaves a decent-sized backyard. Jack's House is a timber 'gusset' that will serve the family into the future. Camelia Cottage by 4site Architecture Camelia Cottage: Small House Extension Makes a Massive Impact An extremely small house extension transforms a heritage cottage. You'll be surprised the difference clever planning and small addition makes to occupants. Park Lane House by Kennedy Nolan Architects Park Lane House Puts It All On Display Unlike most renovations, Park Lane House isn't tucked away in a backyard -- it's out there for all to see. Florence Street House by Nest Architects Florence Street House: A Compact First Home in a Suburban Backyard Tucked away in a subdivided backyard in Melbourne's Inner North, Nest Architects created a delightfully compact two-bedroom home with a beautiful sunny garden. Batten and Board House by Rob Kennon Architects Batten and Board House: A Simple 'Box' Transforms a Weatherboard From very early on it was clear that a simple box would dramatically improve the amenity of this home. And what a beautiful box it is! Flinders Lane Apartment by Clare Cousins Architects Flinders Lane Space Efficient Apartment This space efficient home maximizes living spaces by cleverly concealing bedrooms behind Japanese inspired screens. Fairbairn House by Inglis Architects Fairbairn House Pushes Materials to Their Limits A palette of masonry, timber & stone is pushed to their physical limits. Fairbairn House is a material delight… HOUSE House by Andrew Maynard Architects HOUSE House: A Single Building Extends Two Houses Two homes. Both owned by the same family. A new extension designed to flank the rear of both homes to provide extra space. Bayside Residence by FMD Architects Bayside Residence Proves You Can Have Form and Function A bayside extension clad inside and out in timber battens blurs the functional and decorative. Forever House by WoodWoodWard Architecture Forever House: A New Pavilion under the Eaves of a Suburban Home A sustainable, flexible and contemporary living space grows out of an existing home. It's reverent and cheeky, radical and conservative. Clifton Hill House by Nic Owen Architects Clifton Hill House: Heritage Cottage Gets Sustainable Renovation An inner city Victorian cottage of heritage significance is renovated with contemporary design and sustainable building practices. Sunken Courtyard House by Gestalten Architects Sunken Courtyard House Partially Submerged to Fit Into Low-Lying Neighborhood To make the most of a tiny site -- 10 x 15 meters -- amongst low lying neighbors this double story home was partially submerged. Stanhill Apartment by Architecture Architecture Famous Stanhill Apartment Gets a Modern Update A landmark post-war apartment gets an entirely new fit-out on a very lean budget and a minimalist aesthetic. Boundary House by BKK Architects Boundary House Extension Grows to Create Internal Courtyard By wrapping an extension against the boundary, Boundary House deals with awkward residual spaces and improves access to light. Beachcroft Orth Residence by Andrew Maynard Architects Beachcroft Orth Residence: Openable Walls Let the Outdoors In At Beachcroft Orth Residence, screens and glazed garage doors allow internal spaces to spill into the outdoors. Bow House by Edwards Moore Architects Bow House Twists and Contorts to Let the Sun In Everyone needs a bit of sunshine in their lives. That's why Bow House goes out of its way to let the sunshine in. Gardiner House by 4site Architecture Gloomy Worker's Cottage Enjoys a Small But Transformative Extension Modest extension creates an infinitely more liveable home compared to a previously gloomy and confused hodgepodge of poor additions. Weatherboard House by FMD Architects Weatherboard House: Not Your Average Suburban Weatherboard… The weatherboards on this extension compress, extend upwards and weave over the facade in a modern interpretation of the traditional weatherboard cottage. Datum House by Rob Kennon Architects New Addition Features Spaces with Generous Sense of Volume At Datum House the ceiling height, rather than extra square meters, creates a generous and varied sense of space (without the cost). East West House by Rob Kennon Architects East West House Hides a Secret Behind Its Victorian Facade… East West House, near the top of Richmond Hill, contains the unexpected. A large roof deck is hidden behind the heritage protected Victorian roofline. Orange Grove House by Fiona Winzar Architects Orange Grove House Makes the Most of a Compact Sub-Divided Site The design of Orange Grove House is so good the clients couldn't stand to sell as they'd planned and decided to move in instead! Hello House by OOF! Architects Hello House: This Has to Be the Friendliest House on the Block! As you round the corner of this quiet street, a cheery extension greets you. Quite literally… It says 'Hello'. Inside Out House (Cut Paw Paw House) by Andrew Maynard Architects Inside Out House: Bringing the Outside In and the Inside, Out Cut Paw Paw Inside Out House is deliberately incomplete. The owners, asked that the house be 'ridiculously inside-out'… Elsternwick House by Simon Couchman Architects Elsternwick House: The Answer to a Heritage Issue is Black and White A contemporary extension of this Elsternwick House is clad in contrasting dark zinc to draw a very deliberate line between new and old. Fenwick Street House by Julie Firkin Architects Fenwick Street House: Passive Solar Design for Light and Spacious Home This passive solar home was designed to maximise available light and space on an oddly shaped block in the inner suburban Melbourne. Middle Park Studio by John-Paul Rollo Architects Middle Park Studio Takes Advantage of Rear Laneway Access Middle Park Studio isn't a house. But if it were, it would be a great example of how we can develop backyards with laneway access into smart, sustainable homes. Patterson Street Residence by Jost Architects Modern Rear Extension Reinvigorates Patterson Street Residence After a number of minor additions over the years, Patterson Street Residence is reinvigorated with a modern extension to the rear. Blurred House by Bild Architecture Watch as Blurred House Transforms from Cali Bungalow to Modern Home From the front it's an unassuming Californian Bungalow. From the rear, undeniably modern. It's a new type of house — a blurred house. St Kilda East House by Clare Cousins Architects St Kilda East House: An Old Home is Brightened With Dining Courtyard A series of insertions into this period home injects light deep into the plan, making it modern and bright in-spite of its age. Carbon Positive Prefab House by ArchiBlox World's First Carbon Positive Prefab House Drops in to Melbourne ArchiBlox' Carbon Positive Prefab House means it's no longer enough to just be carbon neutral, when you can be carbon positive. Bridport Residence by Matt Gibson Architecture Bridport Residence Addresses the Need for More Informal Living Bridport Residence extension grabs northern light and creates a quiet safe haven to the rear of the property. Local House by MAKE Architecture Local House is Designed to Enhance Connection with Friends and Family Local House is playful and intriguing — designed more like a favourite local café than a private house — creating spaces for connection and bonding. Tower House by Andrew Maynard Architects Tower House's Collection of Small Pavilions Creates a Village of Spaces Tower House's owners and their 8 year old twin sons asked for a home 'for community, art and nature to come together'. They got a village. Sandringham House by Techne Architecture + Interior Design Modern Two-Storey Extension at this Sandringham House Makes an Impression What looks like a contemporary shipping container pops out of this renovated Sandringham House. Hawthorn House by Chan Architecture Hawthorn House Embraces the Challenge of Renovating a Terrace Renovating and extending a typical Victorian terrace always poses a unique set of challenges. Hawthorn House exceeds those challenges. Merton House by Thomas Winwood Architecture At Merton House a Curving Dark Timber Wall Creates the New Home's Edge Merton House reinterprets the bay windows, scale and arrangement of internal spaces to create a contemporary kitchen and living spaces. Modular Tower House by Modscape Modular Tower House's Lofty Design Makes a Statement in Sleepy Suburb In a quiet corner of Melbourne's Inner-North, Modscape's modular, pre-fabricated and sustainable Tower House stands out from the crowd. Bike House by FMD Architects A Family of Bike Lovers Find All They Are Looking for at Bike House MAMIL haters, beware. Bike House is designed for a family of four bikes-lovers who have foregone the family car for a two-wheeled alternative. St Kilda House by Jost Architects A Grassy Courtyard Fit for a Cow is the New Focus of St Kilda House A grassy green courtyard fit for a cow (ok, not a real cow) at the centre of this renovated St Kilda House adds a bright new focus. Baker Street House by FGR Architects Baker Street House Maximises a Tight Site With Glass and Double Height Spaces A tight inner-city site is transformed with double height spaces and floor-to-ceiling, seamlessly connecting the indoors and outdoors. High Street Alta Architecture by Alta Architecture High Street House is a Vision of What Suburban Housing Should Be A large suburban home for an extended family in the suburbs doesn't need to look and feel like a cookie cutter McMansion… Richmond House by Rachcoff Vella Architecture Richmond House Strips Back the Original and Reinterprets the Lean-to After stripping back years of unthoughtful additions, Richmond House receives a bright and modern interpretation of a lean-to. Ashburton House by PHOOEY Architects Ashburton House's Sawtooth Facade is Self-Shading and Stylish Like a roof on its side, Ashburton House's sawtooth facade is self-shading, blocking summer sun from striking and heating the surface. Melbourne Refurbishment Marc Dixon by Marc Dixon Architects Melbourne Refurbishment Has Fun with Colour and Scale This Melbourne Refurbishment rearranges spaces in line with modern living, but doesn't forget to have fun along the way… House 3 by Coy Yiontis Architects House 3 Finds Enough Space for a Large Extended Family in Melbourne At House 3 there's enough space for three generations of the one family to live comfortably together despite a tight site. Prefab Hawthorn Studio by Third Skin A Prefab Detached Studio in Hawthorn Adds Limitless Flexibility Parents' retreat, teen hideaway, granny flat or rental earner — the function of this self contained extension can change over time. Prefab Collingwood House by ArchiBlox Prefab Collingwood House Effortlessly Fits Into a Narrow Urban Site The prefabricated Collingwood House fits easily into its tight urban site, without feeling squeezed for space. Casual House by Christopher Megowan Design Casual House is a Laid-Back Home Built for Modern Living Casual House's low maintenance, no frills materials create an affordable yet compelling extension to the rear of a family home. Bower House by Andrew Simpson Architects Bower House Collects Elements to Remind the Owners of Their Past Homes Normally we fill our homes with objects that remind us of our past. At Bower House, the house itself is made up of elements to remind the owners of their past. Armadale House by Mitsuori Architects A Discreet Addition Makes the Most of a Compact Site in Armadale The Armadale House addition creates an open plan living area with a great connection to the garden, maximising the small site. Concrete House by Matt Gibson Architecture Concrete House's Tapered Form Frames the View Concrete House features a tapered concrete second story which focuses the view of a garden and the city beyond. Barrow House by Andrew Maynard Architects Barrow House is a Renovation of Rotated Timber Boxes The Barrow extension appears as an arrangement of timber boxes, each independently rotated and subjected to varying amounts of extruding and manipulating forces. Eyelid House by Fiona Winzar Architects Eyelid House: From Dark Pokey Terrace to Generous Light-Filled Home Turning this tight inner-city terrace into a light-filled, open-plan home for a family of five was a challenge. But was it a success? Beach Avenue House by Schulberg Denkiw Architects Beach Avenue House: Spacious Family Home Managed to Fit on Tiny Site On an extremely small parcel of land Beach Avenue House is designed more like a finely crafted joinery unit than a typical home. Brighton East Interior by Dan Gayder Design Brighton East Interior: Finessing Spaces to Serve as a Family Home The clients of Brighton East Interior wanted to ensure their home met the hectic requirements of the family while preferring to not build up. Bass Street Residence by B.E Architecture Subtle Angles at Bass Street Residence Highlight the Home's Two Main Views From distant water views to the nearby sculptural native trees, Bass Street Residence angles itself to take it all in… Middle Park House by Mitsuori Architects Daily Life Feels More Like a Holiday at Middle Park House Renovating an inner bayside family home to be flexible as the family grows and subtly remind the owners of time spent on beach holidays. Double Terrace House by Rob Kennon Architects Double Terrace House: Two Adjacent Terrace Homes Become One… Behind these unassuming terraces' heritage facades is an unexpectedly modern home blurring the boundaries between two once separate houses. House Rosebank by MAKE Architecture House Rosebank's Generous New Living Areas Compliment a Grand Old Edwardian At House Rosebank, new rear living spaces help the home take advantage of a sunny garden and create a connection with the existing pool. Black Rock House by Jost Architects Black Rock House Uses Creative Thinking to Overcome Challenges Black Rock House successfully meshes elements of old and new to create a cohesive and comfortable family home. Hawthorn Residence by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture Single Fronted Hawthorn Residence Gets a Bright Two Story Extension Even with close neighbours, carefully positioned skylights and double-height spaces make this home feel private, bright and spacious. Hawthorn East House by Chan Architecture A Typical English Cottage Style House is Transformed Into Modern Home A series of separate, disconnected rooms are transformed by a central, open planned living space that maximises north light. May Grove House by Jackson Clements Burrows Architects Modern, Low Maintenance, Inner City Pad for a Professional Couple Home to a professional couple and Biggles the cat, this modern design aims to enhance the owners daily living experience. And succeeds. Skin-Box House by mcmahon and nerlich This Home's Translucent Walls Create Beautiful Effects Inside and Out Skin-Box House is a compact but refined home that maximises the sense of space with full height glass and quality materials... Regent Street Warehouse by Techne Architecture + Interior Design Original Elements Stand Out in this Tasteful Warehouse Conversion New architectural elements recede thanks to a subdued palette highlighting the original elements of this industrial building. Mills House by Austin Maynard Architects Need Extra Storage? The Floor of this House is a Giant Cupboard! Mills House eliminates bulky cupboards by converting the floor into storage space, leaving the entire width of the terrace for living. Cumquat Tree hosue by Christopher Megowan Design Outdoor 'Rooms' Create the Perfect Breakout Zones for This Home The reordering and extension of this Art Deco home frames a view of an existing and prolific cumquat tree at the rear of the property. THAT House by Austin Maynard Architects THAT House Defies Its Neighbours In Every (Good) Way Possible A new home in a neighbourhood of large houses scales back the status quo to provide ‘just the right amount of space’ for a family. Kelvin House by FMD Architects Terrace Reorganised to Create More Open Living and Embrace the Sun Kelvin House is refurbished to create a new open plan living area while a new deck creates better access to the north light. St Kilda East House by Taylor Knights Craftsmanship and Modern Interventions Update this Heritage Home A balance of privacy and the celebration of communal spaces allows two generations to comfortably live together in this renovated home. Tunnel House by Michael Ong A House That Revolves Around the Garden and Spending Time Outdoors By pulling this extension away from the exiting house, the architects created sunny courtyards and maximised the natural light. Theresa Street Residence by Sonelo Design Studio Theresa Street Residence Evokes One Word: Subtlety Theresa Street Residence is a loft apartment that is redesigned as a modest seamless interior effortlessly disguising the old as new. Hoddle House by Freadman White Architects If These Walls Could Talk They'd Tell You Their Cost-Saving Secret... Rather than demolish and rebuild the rear 1970s addition to this home, the architect incorporated the walls into new, thicker walls. The Kite by Architecture Architecture Homes and Kite-Shaped Don't Often Go Together But It Works Here 'I want it to be kite-shaped' said no potential homeowner ever. And yet with this unusual site, a kite-shaped plan works well. Tinderbox House by Breathe Architects Dramatic Colours and Materials Transform an Inner-Melbourne Pad Using the colours of an 18th Century fire starting kit as inspiration, Breathe Architecture create a dramatic inner-city space. Warrandyte House by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture This House Cascades Down River Bank on Beautiful But Difficult Site A Melbourne home designed by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture creates a cascade of contemporary family living spaces in a bushfire area. Malvern House by Jost Architects Malvern House is Serious Out the Front and a Party at the Back! Jost Architects mediate heritage controls and an eager client brief to deliver a delightful update to an inter-war home. Green House by Sean Godsell Architects Inventive Addition to Heritage Cottage Challenges Our Idea of a Roof The unusual roof of the small but effective addition is the real winner - providing plenty of light to the small, overshadowed site. Cube House by Carr Design Group A Stunning Light-Well Separates This Addition From the Original Home Period ornamentation out the front, contemporary simplicity out the back. This home makes a beautiful transition from old to new. Dowel House by FMD Architects Clerestory Skylight Becomes a Point of Focus Over the Dining Area The use of humble timber dowel rods in various forms throughout this refurbishment serve a practical, decorative and unifying purpose. Yan Lane by Justin Mallia Inner-City Lost Space is Transformed by this Infill Development We don't often feature multi-residential projects. But when we do, they're beautifully innovative projects like this one. Stepped House by Rob Kennon Architects Stepped House Deals with a Sloping South-Facing Site with Style Each room of this addition steps down with the contours of the site, while the plan zigzags to access light and connect to the garden. Miller House by Architecture Architecture Rich Materials and Light-Filled Courtyards Connect Old to New A series of courtyards weave this modern extension into the original home. A sensitive departure from the typical add-on. Port Melbourne Heritage Cottage by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture A New Upper Level Brings Much Needed Space to a Heritage Cottage Renovating a heritage house is a challenge at the best of times. But when the only option is going up, the challenge is all the greater. Parkville House by Steffen Welsch Architects Glazed Atrium Dining Room Links and Lights This Heritage Home Older homes typically face two problems: lack of natural light and poor planning. A glazed atrium dining room solves both issues here. Inbetween House by Inbetween Architecture Unconventional Front Addition Compliments and Contrasts Original Home We're familiar with rear additions but at Inbetween House a clever front addition reorients and reconnects the house and garden. The Avenue by Neil Architecture This Couple Built Two Houses. One to Live In and One to Sell... This duplex development isn't what we have come to expect. It actively avoids placing garages on the street as an homage to the car. Shakin' Stevens Residence by Matt Gibson Architecture This Home Takes the Need to Connect to Green Space Very Seriously You can tell something's different about this heritage home from the moment you see the lime green door and pastel green walls... Hawthorn Solar Extension by Habitech Systems New Solar Extension Designed to Power the Whole House A rear extension takes advantage of a North-facing backyard to connect to the garden and generate electricity for the whole house. Journey House by Nic Owen Architects A House Where the Journey is More Interesting than the Destination Old and new are connected by a black tunnel with no end immediately in sight. But there is a light-filled end to this tunnel. Rosanna House by Nest Architects Pokey 1960s Home Gets a Much-Needed 21st Century Reboot This considered addition capitalises on good qualities of the home and fixes the less than ideal. What can be saved in your addition? Yarraville House by Techne Architecture + Interior Design If You're an Entertainer, This House Has Been Designed for You! A new-found connection to the yard and pool, wine storage that's decorative yet practical and integrated seating throughout... Hip & Gable House by Architecture Architecture Hip & Gable House: When the Roof is More than Just a Roof New pitched roofs continue the style of the original home, but are reinterpreted based on the function of the rooms and need for light. Seddon House by OSK Architects From Disused Inner-City Car Park to a Compact Family Home From the street this modern take on the other single storey cottage in the neighbourhood. But things get interesting quickly... Monolith House by Rara Architecture A Home Designed for Light and Family, Not 'The Market' When you need to fit a lot onto a small block, forget market expectations and look for light and functionality to suit your family. Blackburn House by ArchiBlox Home Among the Gum Trees Makes the Most of a Sloped Site This family home is nestled amongst the gums, cantilevering over the sloped site so it feels more like a treehouse than a regular home. The Corner House by POLYstudio Black Is the New White at This Striking 'House in the Round' Addition At this highly visible corner block, the architects have designed a black extension to contrast with the white Edwardian original. Neville House by A Little Bit of Zinc Hints At What's Happening Behind Red Brick House Clad in zinc, this simple rear addition creates a light-filled, low-fuss extension for a young family to grow. Jo's House by Guild Architects Light-Filled and Unfussy Home to Relax in After a Busy Work Day This renovation for a woman with a busy work life needed to be relaxing and low-maintenance - the perfect retreat after a long day. The Ridgeway House by Merrylees Architecture & Quinn Architecture Old School Friends Unite to Design a Tranquil Home for a Busy Family A renovation creates flexible but calm spaces for a blended family, visiting overseas relatives, and a professional home office. Clinker Charm by Detail 9 Architects You've Heard of Flipping Houses, But This Home Gets a Different Flip With a living area facing a busy road, a separate and congested kitchen and an under-utilised backyard, this home needed flipping... Toorak Texture by NORTHBOURNE Architecture + Design No Need for an Extension Where a Clever Internal Redesign Will Work At their Toorak Texture project, NORTHBOURNE Architecture + Design quickly realised there was no need to waste time and money extending. Dancing House by Craig Tan Architects Step Inside a Home Inspired by Tranquil, Forested Clearings Arranged around three courtyards, this new open-plan extension is a delightful counterpoint to the existing Californian Bungalow. Oak Grove by Justin Mallia Folded Facades Give Two Identical Homes Their Own Identity For cost efficiency this project creates two identical houses, but thanks to a clever folded facade each home fits the site. Diamond Creek by Drawing Room Architecture What To Do If the Best View in the House is From the Laundry Tub A new extension negotiates the slope of the land, looking out to the view and connecting the living area to the garden. St Kilda East House by Claire Scorpo Architects Tiny Addition Proves How Useful a Small, Considered Space Can Be Measuring in at just 11 square metres of additional space, this tiny addition punches above its weight for its size. Acute House by OOF! Architects Transforming a Renovator's Nightmare on Seriously Triangular Site Take a tiny, acutely triangular site, add a demanding heritage context and you've given your architect a challenge. But look what she did! Smart Home by Green Sheep Collective This Extension Makes Smart, Effective Use of Very Tight Spaces Every square metre counts when you don't have much space. You need to be smart and make every element do more than one thing... Lean-to House by Warc Studio Designing a Cost and Environmentally Effective Addition to a Home Unlike many of the ubiquitous lean-to-style additions in the area, this modern lean-to transforms the original home. Footscray Apartment by BoardGrove Architects Footscray Apartment Renovated for More Flexibility and Light An unorthodox, but clever, renovation creates a series of light-filled flexible living spaces and creates the illusion of space. Park Cottage by Bryant Alsop An Unexpectedly Colourful and Playful Addition to a Heritage Home From the heritage facade you'd never expect to find this light-filled, colourful and playful home which spills into the backyard. Neumannhaus by ITN Architects Backyard Extension Takes its Cues from Nearby Buildings and Garages This light-filled extension has an industrial feel to it thanks to using the mix of nearby garages and light industry as inspiration. Park Street Residence by B.E Architecture New Life for a Victorian-Era House Fit for Multi-Generational Living Reimagining a heritage home to fulfil the modern needs of three generations of the one family, highlighting its layered history. Clerestory House by Lai Cheong Brown A Stunning Timber Lined Clerestory is the Centrepiece of This Reno This renovated interwar house is now perfect home for a retired couple and adult family member plus a meeting place for nearby family. John & Kathleen's by Irons McDuff Architecture Clever Joinery and a Motto of Doing More With Less Is the Answer Updates to this elegant, but out-of-touch 1940s home hark back to the era it was built - when houses were small but functional. Studio Garage by Krisna Cheung Architects A Translucent Studio Creates a Soft Backdrop for an Inner City Yard A garage and studio with seperate access from the laneway is a flexible and sensitive space at the rear of this inner-city terrace. Hawthorn Studio by Habitech Systems New Studio Builds Future Flexibility Into This Hawthorn Home A studio connected to the main house by a decked walkway creates maximum flexibility (and reduces renovation stress) for this family. Dark Horse by Architecture Architecture In a Neighbourhood of Workers' Cottages, There's One Dark Horse Black sheep. Odd one out. Dark horse. Whatever you want to call it, there's something different about this home - and we love it! Blackburn Villa by Inbetween Architecture Is it Time to Ditch the Formal Dining and Prioritise Living? This professional couple felt constrained by an outdated floor plan that sacrificed living areas for circulation and formal dining... Like Living in the '70s by Steffen Welsch Architects Modernist 1970s Home Addresses its Shortcomings For 21st Century Life A home rich with character is updated to improve comfort, privacy and connection to the landscape without losing its vintage feel. Murray by Foomann Architects This Elsternwick Home Delights on a Narrow, Tightly Constrained Block In a suburb of houses three times its size this home makes the most of its narrow block and compact size by capturing views of the sky. Burnley Renovation by DX Architects This Reno Feels Light and Bright Despite Being Hemmed in on All Sides If your neighbours are too close for comfort, focus on natural light. Your home will feel spacious and you'll forget they're there... Frame Terrace by mcmahon and nerlich New Spaces Sit Above and Behind this Existing Heritage Building Careful to leave much of this heritage building intact, the architects have created new spaces above and behind the existing home. Glass Link House by Robbie Walker New Master Bedroom Pod for a "Very, Very Deserving Mum"... After buying a "rough" knocker-downer in the 'burbs, builder/designer/snow boarder, Robbie Walker decided to renovate instead. The Leaf House by Damian Rogers Architecture Glazed Roof Floats Like a Leaf Capturing Views of Trees and Sky A bold new living, dining and kitchen space grabs views of the trees and manages to fit a veggie garden in the most surprising place... St David Street House by Drawing Room Architecture With Good Design Even the Smallest of Spaces Can Live Large This compact addition proves small spaces can be highly liveable with plenty of storage, daylighting and a connection to the outdoors. True North by Tandem Design Studio This is How You Deal With an Unusual Triangular Site... What do you do with a triangular site? Perhaps the best solution is to think outside of the box. Or triangle, as the case may be... Perched House by Rara Architecture Curving and Perching Overhead, This Addition is Playful and Light Perched House is a renovation that defies perceptions - feeling much larger than it actually is thanks to some clever tricks. Valiant House by A for Architecture Why Does the Bathroom Often Have the Best View in Workers Cottages? Like many un-renovated inner-city homes, the bathroom of this Melbourne workers cottage had the best light and views in the house! Green House by Zen Architects Urban Green House Creates a Sunny, Healthy, Happy, Inner-City Home Application of passive design principles creates a living, breathing, sustainable space that is a pleasure to inhabit. Footscray Shed House by Jonathan Wong Architects This Rear Addition Feels at Home in Its Gritty, Inner-Urban Suburb An extension designed to appear more like a random collection sheds belies the clever, considered spaces within. Malvern East House by Pleysier Perkins Renovation for Modern Living Retains this Edwardian Home's Soul A beautiful attention to details and respect for the original home creates a modern space that effortlessly blends old and new. Lt Collins Apartment by de.arch This Fun-Filled Apartment Renovation Has a Rock Climbing Wall Armed with a fun and adventurous brief, the architects of this apartment reno created a family home with surprises around every corner. Villa Unit Reinvigorate by SWG Studio Removing Internal Walls Gives This Home a Modern Open-Plan Vibe By removing the internal walls of this unit and incorporating plenty of built-in joinery, it feels more spacious and modern. Casa Famiglia by BOARCH Casa Famiglia Updates a Home with Generations of Memories How does an architect update and extend a home that's been in the family for years? Without whitewashing the history and memories? Henry Street House by Eugene Cheah Architecture This Renovation Turns the Traditional Terrace Layout on its Head Where a traditional terrace is dark and cellular this renovation finds light and open space, creating an addition of contrasts. Datum House by FIGR Architecture and Design A Contemporary House Puts A Modern Spin on Its Neighbourhood Datum House uses the scale and proportions of its neighbours as the starting point for a modern and light-filled home. Kingsville Residence by A Modern Addition Tucked Under an Extension of the Original Roofline By working with the original roofline of this Federation home, the designer created a light-filled and spacious addition. Staley Apartment by Jos Tan Architects What Happens When We Let Go of the Buy, Rent, Flip Mentality? Creating a family home requires more than a coat of paint and some pretty cushions. It requires good design and long-term thinking. Brickface by Austin Maynard Architects The Newest House on the Street Looks Like It Could Be the Oldest Thanks to recycled brick, this new studio looks like it could be the oldest building in this Richmond laneway. Rhythm House by Delia Teschendorff Architecture Rhythm House: A Home Designed for a Family of Musicians This extension provides new living areas, a specialised sound recording space and performance area for a family of musicians. Nest House by Zen Architects A Cozy, Nest-Like Mezzanine Studio Floats Above This Living Space To unite all living spaces without creating one large space, a unique nest-like studio sits above the living area in this reno. Curtain Cottage by Apparte Studio This Is How You Transform a Tight and Dingy Terrace Without Extending An architect, a builder, and a joiner walk into a dark and dingy terrace... Garden Wall House by Sarah Kahn Architect A Recycled Brick Garden Wall Creates an Inner-City Sanctuary By dividing a complicated inner-city block into a patchwork, a new home sits comfortably between heritage buildings and gritty laneway. Studio House by Zen Architects A Flexible, Multi-purpose Studio That Requires Very Little Land By designing a separate, self-contained studio, this family have gained the extra space they need now and flexibility into the future. Gable House by Sheri Haby Architects Twin Gables, Rather Than Extra Floor Area, Give the Illusion of Space The rear of this home is redesigned to give an air of spaciousness, with an internal reconfiguration and the addition of two gables. Port Melbourne House by Pandolfini Architects Narrow Terrace Hides Several Space-defying Surprises A double-height space. An internal courtyard. A huge skylight. All tricks to create a sense of space hidden behind a narrow terrace. Garage House by Foomann Architects A Home That Explores Communal Living for Adults This flexible new home built behind the existing is accessible by rear laneway; it could be used as a garage, studio or living space. Crisp House by Robert Nichol & Sons Heritage Homes Are Romantic, but They're a Challenge to Renovate An architect wrestles with the romance of renovating a historic home and the challenge of meeting planning and regulatory requirements. Light Saw House by Zen Architects No More Living in Darkness; This Saw Tooth Roof Brings the Light Even if you're stuck with a south-facing backyard overshadowed by your own house, there's no need to dwell in darkness. SSK Residence by Davidov Partners Architects Architects Use Renovation as an Opportunity to Chase the Sun Transforming a dark Californian Bungalow into a sun and fun-loving family home with some clever renovation ideas. Albert Park House by Chiverton Architects A Home With a Sentimental History is Sensitively Renovated 'This house was purchased by Kasimiersz and Lucia in 1955', reads a plaque on the wall. One of the ways this home remembers its past... Albert Park Terrace by Dan Webster Architecture A Tight Site and Heritage Controls; Dealing With All the Constraints Sometimes the constraints that can make a project more difficult end up creating something unique and wonderful. Collingwood Compact by An Eco-friendly Upgrade Transforms this Inner-City Home Considering an eco-friendly upgrade to your home? Look no further for inspiration than Collingwood Compact. Old Be-al House by FMD Architects A Renovation that Honours a Beautiful Old Gum Tree in the Backyard If there's an old tree in your backyard, don't cut it down to make way for your new reno. Instead, make it the centrepiece. Coronet by Jos Tan Architects Hold the Wrecking Ball! When Demo, Then Reno Is Not the Solution With a slim budget, demolition of the rear of this home was not an option. But an even slimmer bathroom was part of the solution... Port Melbourne House by Finnis Architects Former Milkbar Now a Light-filled Family Home Among the Treetops Floating above the original milkbar is a recently renovated pavilion which makes this unique family home feel like it's a treehouse. Saturn II by McManus Lew Architects A New Rear Living Area Creates a Better Connection to the Outdoors We love to get out and enjoy the backyard, but too often our homes are disconnected from our outdoor spaces. Here's what you can do... Cubby Office by Krisna Cheung Architects School Holidays Are No Longer a Nightmare for These Working Parents Cubby Office to the rescue! A fun, connected, yet separate space for the kids to play while the parents get back to work. Melbourne Vernacular by Sustainable Owners Renovate with Minimum Carbon Footprint With a passion for sustainability, these owners salvaged whatever they could to reduce the carbon footprint of their renovation. Lawes Street Extension by Habitech Systems What You Can Do to Rectify a 1980s Brown Brick Atrocity The '80s was responsible for numerous crimes against taste (but some pretty fabs music). What can you do to right some of those wrongs? Brunswick West House by Taylor Knights Introvert or Extrovert? Here's an Open-Plan Space with Room for All! Three sculptural walls create nooks and niches within a larger open-plan space, creating the opportunity to mingle or seek solitude. House SE by Walter&Walter Perforated Sliding Door Provides Privacy Without Blocking Views or Light Inspired by the spaces and ornamentation of the original home, this home plays with light and space to create a dramatic addition. Tess + JJ's House by po-co Architecture A New Two-storey House That Won't Upset the Neighbours? A new house, in an old area, on a tight site, with space for a family of four that won't upset the neighbours? Are they dreaming? Bustle House by FMD Architects This Old Victorian-era 'Lady' Gets a Modern Bustle Dress Makeover The history and beauty of this old home are respected and celebrated by a bustle dress-inspired addition. College Place by Nest Architects How Would You Design a House for a Scuba Diver? If you're noticing a bit of an underwater theme in this home, it's no accident. This is a home for a keen scuba diver! K2 House by FMD Architects A Bachelor's Pad Is Transformed Into a Home Fit for a Family Life can change a lot in 10 years, so what do you do if your home no longer fits in with your life? Move or renovate? Boundary Street House by Chan Architecture A New Home Makes the Most of an Unusual Site in the Inner City It's not often you get to build a new house in the inner city. What would you do if you had a clean slate? Ivanhoe Extension by Modscape Could You Live at Home While Your Extension is Being Built? Living at home while your extension is built sounds like a nightmare, but this clever idea allowed the owners to live disruption-free. Dark 'n' Stormy by Dan Gayfer Design A Kitchen Renovation to Weather the Storm (i.e. Three Young Boys) When you've got active young kids, your home must be robust enough to withstand a lot of punishment. This kitchen is built to last. Courtyard Deck House by ZGA Studio A Courtyard Deck's the Perfect Way to Combine Old and New at This Home A decked courtyard connects this existing home and extension, providing light, breezes and an indoor-outdoor connection to old and new. Courtyard House by Sarah Lake Architects The Conventional Form of This Addition Is Cut Back to Let the Sun In On a long, narrow site, a courtyard is cleverly cut into this addition to allow the sun to stream into new living spaces. Boston Villa by Nest Architects Abandoned for Years, This Elegant Villa Is Now a Sustainable Home This house had become a squat and burnt down during the design stage, but Dean and Lisa transformed it into a modern, sustainable home. Urban Barnyard by Inbetween Architecture Urban Barnyard House Is Home to a Family and Their Chickens and Bees Hiring an architect to design your new home or renovation is a big commitment. So how do you know you're making the right choice? Selby Aura Family Home by Drawing Room Architecture What a Difference Fresh Colours, New Joinery and Great Lighting Makes This home had good bones, but forty years of use left it feeling tired. A clever facelift offers a fresh start for its new owners. Project Nymph by Zen Architects What If Your Home Felt More Like Living in a Garden? This home takes advantage of its location near the Botanic Gardens to create a living area which feels like an extension of the garden. Garden Studio by MODO Architecture Don't Build Over Your Garden, Grow Your Garden Up Instead! Instead of sacrificing their productive garden, plants are encouraged to grow up the walls of this clever backyard studio. Coburg North House by Baker Drofenik Architects The Outlook of this 1940s Home Just Got a Lot Brighter... A new addition prioritises light and a connection to the garden, transforming this 1940s house into an uplifting and modern home. House A by Walter&Walter This Suburban Home Finds a Unique Way to Connect with the Landscape From the street, this looks like a house with no windows, but once inside you realise it's the exact opposite... Tetris Extension by Crosshatch This Extension Is Arranged Like a Game of Tetris to Maximise Space On a tight, south-facing site, the various spaces of this addition are expertly arranged to ensure maximum benefit with minimal fuss. The Shadow House by Nic Owen Architects A 'Shadow' of This Heritage Home Shows Us How You Extend Respectfully Extending heritage homes respectfully is a challenge. Allowing this addition to recede into the shadows was the sensitive approach. Ascot Vale Micro Addition by Drawing Room Architecture Micro Addition Tucks Much-needed Second Bathroom into Narrow Setback It's not the size of an addition that counts, it's the functionality it adds to your home. This micro addition achieves hefty results. Kew Villa by McManus Lew Architects A 1960s Unit Is Transformed Into a Modern Family Home Buying an extra slice of land from the owners' corporation enabled this 1960s one-bedroom unit to become a modern three-bedroom home. Clifton Hill House by Field Office Architecture Terrace Addition Creates a Light-filled Home and Studio for an Artist By designing a new, open-plan addition to this heritage home, the owner has a light-filled space to inspire his creativity. Altona Lightbox by OMG Architects Dark and Pensive on the Outside, but It's a Different Story Inside As soon as you enter the front door of this 1950s home, you are drawn to the light and openness of the new, rear addition. House for Three Generations by po-co Architecture How to Design a House for Three Generations Under the One Roof Increasingly, multi-generational families are choosing to live together. In this case, how do we design homes which cater for everyone? Type Street Apartment by Tsai Design This Compact Apartment is Like a Transformer to Maximise Space A tired 1970s apartment undergoes a massive transformation without relocating structure or services. BENT Annexe by Bent Architecture A Light-filled Annexe-like Addition Opens This Home Up to the Garden Like an annexe attached to the side of this solid home, BENT Annexe is an open-plan living area that feels more like a garden room. St Kilda Apartment Renovation by The Surprising Way They Managed to Extend This First Floor Apartment Originally a simple apartment renovation project turned into something more after discovering air rights would allow them to extend... South Melbourne Beach House by Topology Studio A Light-filled Beach House Just Two Kilometres from the City? With an incredible site just one street from the beach and close to the city, these architects built their ideal family home. Arrow House by Mark Lam Architect A Striking Angular Addition Helps to Draw Fresh Air Through this Home A surprising, angular addition pops out of the rear of this home, but it does more than just look dramatic... Side Yard House by Andrew Child Architecture The Clever Reason to Skip a Backyard in Favour of a Side Yard Instead If your backyard doesn't face north, create a long side yard instead so you can enjoy the benefits of natural light and passive design. Pleated House by Megowan Architectural You Can't Design a Flat, Boring Roof When Your Client's a Roof Plumber With a folded roof form and charred timber cladding, Pleated House has plenty of flair for its design-conscious owners. Origami Fold House by SG2 Design Folding the Roofline of an Addition Creates an Unexpected Delight The carefully crafted folds of the ancient art of origami create something new and unexpected. It's a similar story with this reno... Albert Park Modular Extension by Modscape How Would You Like Your Extension Installed in a Day? With modular, off-site construction you can remove the headaches of extending your home and still end up with a beautiful result. Folding Floor House by Neighbourhood Inspiration Helps This New Kid on the Block Fit In Inspired by a nearby converted factory, this home brings its own spin to the saw-tooth roofline and the inspiration doesn't stop there. Hawthorn Villa by McManus Lew Architects A Dated and Inward-looking Unit Transformed Into Modern Family Home Instead of demolishing this unit, the architects reimagined it, transforming it into a modern and light-filled 3-bedroom home. Peekaboo House by Peekaboo! This Addition Pops Over the Roof of The Original Home To grab light without taking over the backyard, this addition pops its head over the original home, saying peekaboo to the street! Box Hill North Townhouse by Inbetween Architecture Are New Townhouses Ruining Your Neighbourhood? Here's One Solution... These townhouses challenge the norm and prove you can develop suburban sites without ignoring the character of the neighbourhood. Brodecky House by Atlas Architects Downsizer Creates New Home in the Backyard of Her Corner Block Having lived in the area for 45 years, this downsizer was reluctant to leave. Instead, she built the perfect home in her backyard! Barton House by Julie Firkin Architects Dramatic Timber Ceiling Soars Over This New Addition The dramatic timber ceiling sails over new living spaces and outside, shading the home but retaining the best views. Samurai Duplex by SG2 Design This Duplex is Inspired By a Samurai and Japanese Architecture A samurai's armour inspires the form and materials of this unique townhouse development, bringing a bit of Japan to the suburbs. Canterbury Studio by McGann Architects This Studio Shows Us What's Possible in Our Own Backyard... With housing (un)affordability growing and our city limits bursting, this project shows us there's still space in the inner city. Milroy Street by Megowan Architectural From 'a Labyrinth of Purples and Yellows' to... This! After removing walls and opening up both the internal space and to the outdoors, this home is virtually unrecognisable. House 184 by Blank Canvas Architects How to Make a Compact Workers Cottage on a Tight Block Feel Spacious? When you've got a tight block, you need to use every square centimetre. That's how you make a compact home feel spacious. His & Her House by FMD Architects They Both Had a Home Designed by the Same Architect: Perfect Match? When a couple who both have homes designed by the same architect get married, their new home together is bound to be adventurous! Preston I by Irons McDuff Architecture Peeling Back the Old Layers Reveals a New Story for This Home Revealing the layers beneath this dilapidated home helps to blend old and new, weaving a rich story from the home's existing fabric. Clifton Hill Terraces by Field Office Architecture Eco-townhouses Are Effectively Off-grid in the Middle of the City When you think of an off-grid house you typically imagine a remote cabin in the bush, but these eco-townhouses tell a different story. Elphin House by Julie Firkin Architects Huge Door and Custom Screen Help This Living Area Embrace the Garden Embracing the garden with a huge double-height space, 7 metre-wide door and patterned screen which fills the home with dappled shade. Yarraville Light House by ROAM Architects Narrow Block? This Home Design Offers a Clever Solution... How do you get sun, light and a sense of space when your block is only 6 metres wide? This home has some solutions for narrow blocks. Light House by LAYAN Architects + Designers What Would the Director of a Lighting Company's Home Look Like? Sadly lighting is an afterthought in many homes, but not here: a special lighting system demonstrates the potential of lighting design. Galv Mountain House by OOF! Architects An Addition Pops Out of the Roof to Secure the Future of This Home The clever addition has been sliced and diced to deal with all the constraints of the site, but it guarantees light, space and views. Pine House by Bryant Alsop Rather Than Removing an Existing Addition, They Reimagined It Instead By reimagining the way this existing addition functioned they were able to transform this home, adding only 15 square metres in total. Coburg House by Lisa Breeze Architect Textural Timber Addition Perfect for a Californian Bungalow Renovation You might be surprised how little extra space you need if you take the time to get the floor plan right... Cabinet of Curiosities House by Perversi-Brooks Architects A Cabinet of Curiosities Reflects This Homeowner's Personality For an artist who collects all things astonishing and strange, a renovation helps to show off her unique style and flair. Balaclava Remodel by When You've Got Limited Space, It's Important to Make It Work Hard... Making a compact space work means making it work hard. But how, exactly, do you achieve that? This remodel shows you how... Yarraville Residence by Naturally Beautiful Materials Create a Stylish Scandi-inspired Home Scandinavian design is clean and minimal, but the use of natural timbers and stone avoid it becoming sterile. This home nails the look. Sandringham Residence by Minett Studio Architecture & Design Architect Transforms a '90s Apricot Brick House Into a Modern Home With dated bricks and dutch-gabled eaves, this home was definitely a child of the '90s, but now it's been given a contemporary twist. Open House by MODO Architecture You've Heard of a Home Addition, But What About a Subtraction? Would you be game to renovate and reduce the size of your home? This design proves it's not always more space you need, after all. Tie House by Jos Tan Architects This Modern Addition Is Designed to Tie Into the Original Home A modern addition reorients this home towards the sun as well as complementing and tucking under the roofline of the original home. St Kilda Cottage House by Jost Architects This Addition Overcomes the Challenges of a Tricky Tapering Block Making the complex seem effortless in this addition on a tapering block was not easy, but the results are phenomenal. Olinda House by Bent Architecture A Home That Celebrates Its Site by Bringing the Outdoors In... For tree-changers Matt and Leanne, an important part of their ideal home was making the most of their spectacular site. South Yarra House by de.arch A Tight Inner-City Block Required Some Big Ideas for Small Spaces With a block of just 117 square metres, this inner-city reno required some creative thinking to make the most of all available space... Melrose Terrace by Dan Gayfer Design For This Retired Couple, Downsizing Is Far From a Downgrade Downsizing from a large family home to an inner-city pad, this couple were prepared to compromise on space, but not on function! Moor House by Kuzman Architecture By Thinking Creatively, 'More House' Wasn't Necessary at Moor House Oftentimes when you feel like you need 'more house', the answer is actually to rethink the way your existing house functions... Dearie Residence by OMG Architects Mid-century Modern House Senstively Updated for 21st Century Living An addition to this mid-century gem keeps the essence of the original while ensuring it's fit for family life in this century. Atop a Shop by Tsai Design Ever Looked at a Shopfront and Wondered What’s Going on Upstairs? Shop tops in Victorian-era buildings are often dark and often empty these days, talk about a wasted opportunity! Balston House by Transforming This Single-fronted Edwardian Home for Modern Living While older homes have character baked in, they're not built for modern living. But, you can have the best of both worlds; old and new! Project Elsternwick Extension by Modern Addition Inspired by the Original Mid-century Modern Home The owners of a mid-century home loved the qualities of their home but needed a modern addition to bring it into this century. Art House and Studio by Zen Architects A Home and Studio Created with Restoration, Re-use and Recycling A renovation to a Victorian-era home and detached studio shines thanks to the three Rs plus local manufacturing and craftsmanship. Frankston Mid Century Modern by MRTN Architects A Recent Polish Leaves This Mid-century Modern Gem Sparkling With only minor changes over its 50-year life, this mid-century home retained its original charm but desperately needed a little TLC. McNamara House by Tom Robertson Architects A Timeless New Addition is Quietly Hidden Behind the Original Home This new addition is unquestionably modern, but it has an enduring, timeless quality which makes old and new perfect companions. Palm House by Kirsten Johnstone Architecture A Series of Courtyards Turn This Dark Victorian Into a Lush Oasis Internal courtyards are the answer to finding natural daylight and preventing overlooking issues in this inner-city renovation. Apartment on Ballarat by Circle Studio Architects A Revamp Turns Tired '90s Townhouse Into Bright and Welcoming Home It's hard to believe 1994 was nearly 30 years ago, but this home was sure showing its age. No more thanks to a fun and bright revamp. Shadow Play by Inbetween Architecture Inspired by the Original Home a New Pergola Improves Outdoor Living This new pergola uses the original home's roofline as inspiration to provide additional shade without blocking light and views. Masuto by Jamison Architects Rethinking the Typical Duplex Development Offers Numerous Advantages 'It's the way things have always been done' doesn't mean it's the best solution! Questioning the norm can unlock hidden gold...
