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Fairfield Hacienda offers an alternative to the often wasted front yard. MRTN Architects have created a sunny, private courtyard at the front of the house.

With the water at the back door and a lush tropical courtyard bringing in light and breezes, this duplex has the best of both worlds.

A mid-century-inspired home designed to navigate a long, skinny block is this creative duo's forever home...

The owners of this coastal block enjoyed years of beach holidays before deciding to build. Here's how it shaped their home...

As the name suggests, Convertible Courtyard House is a home that's as adaptable as a convertible car - rain, hail or shine, this house has you covered.

In true glamping style Kurreki Beach Retreat has real beds but opens completely onto a courtyard and uses mosquito nets and shower curtains where necessary.

Parure House in Melbourne's inner suburb Kensington is a matching set of separate architectural ideas. It displays a richness of detail and experience.

Running the two homes perpendicular to the street allows this dual occupancy design to maximise views and maintain privacy.

Somers Courtyard House is a low maintenance home to accommodate an expanding family with regular guests. The best part? It's completely off-grid!

A Brisbane red brick spec home was showing its age. Architect James Russell cleverly transformed the dated home into a bright and modern courtyard house.

On a tricky, but naturally beautiful battle-axe site, this home celebrates its assets and minimises its drawbacks.

Like a sunflower, Turnaround House grows from the existing home, turning to face the sun. Once dark and cramped, now light and airy -- what a turnaround!

Sean Godsell's Edward Street House in inner-urban Melbourne has a lot of surprises in store. It's full of hidden secrets just waiting to be discovered...

These retirees packed up their life in Western Victoria to move to Barwon Heads. What lifestyle would you want out of a seachange?

Increasingly, multi-generational families are choosing to live together. In this case, how do we design homes which cater for everyone?

Blessed with a large block in a good area, this family decided to downsize in the backyard, in spite of the constraints.

Like a tiny, irritating grain of sand creating a lustrous pearl, sometimes a projects' constraints lead to the most charming solutions.

Your home doesn't need to be physically big to feel spacious. There are a few tricks to make your home feel larger than life.

An eco-friendly, 7 star energy rated addition to an inner-city terrace feels bright, breezy and, importantly, comfortable year-round.

Hover House by Bower Architecture is built on a disused backyard tennis court in Mt Martha -- a great example of infill housing.

Two Halves House steps down the landscape, separated into a sociable living space and a private sleeping zone.

There's no moat at Fortress House, but this quiet weekend retreat ensures a private, relaxing counterpoint to the owners' busy lives.

A typical Australian home uses the full width of the block and puts a garden in front and out the back; this home is far from typical.

Getting the transition right is a challenge in any addition. Here, a courtyard creates breathing room between old and new.

New living areas and a backyard studio centred around a landscaped courtyard make this home perfect for current and future generations.

Semi-detached house revitalized for a young couple's contemporary lives. The transformation creates a bright new home.

This apartment renovation in the middle of one of Sydney's busiest suburbs still manages to capture the relaxed nature of a beach house…

Tucked away on a treed site on Australia's beautiful Great Ocean Road, Treehouse takes in stunning ocean and tree views.

A generous north-facing courtyard becomes the best part of this house, bringing light, breezes and the outdoors into every space.

Courtyard House makes the most of a narrow, inner-city site, creating an urban oasis for a family of five now and into the future.

Just a short walk from the beach and surrounded by Moona trees, a central courtyard is the link between this home and the landscape.

Carefully planned around a central courtyard to maximise light and connection to the garden while minimising its impact on the street.

A stunning, but rugged landscape influenced the design of Lake Hawea Courtyard House, giving the owners a space protected from the elements.

To make the most of a tiny site -- 10 x 15 meters -- amongst low lying neighbors this double story home was partially submerged.

The entire ground floor of this house has become one continuous indoor/outdoor space thanks to a well conceived alteration and addition.

A new living \'pod\' provides more than space at Mountford Road - bringing light, volume, air and dramatic results to this small-scale project.

Unlike most renovations, Park Lane House isn't tucked away in a backyard -- it's out there for all to see.

Bushfire regulations are a challenge. Homes can end up like bunkers. Chenchow Little's Stewart House is a bushfire proof house that doesn't sacrifice looks.

Internal courtyards are the answer to finding natural daylight and preventing overlooking issues in this inner-city renovation.

At House 3 there's enough space for three generations of the one family to live comfortably together despite a tight site.

It can be a challenge to enjoy indoor/outdoor living without sacrificing your privacy. Birchgrove House achieves the perfect balance.

Rachel Nolan of Kennedy Nolan Architects designed a weekender for her family called Merricks Beach House. It cleverly redefines the Australian beach house.

Shmukler House by Tribe Studio is conceived as a series of boxes suspended in a large shed-like space.

A home for entertainers who also travel a lot. Claremont Residence expands for parties or locks down when the owners are away.

Additional floor area provided by this renovation offers much needed functional space for a growing family, without any excess or waste.

Scribbly Gums on the site of this new family home inspire the use of timber internally and help to generate the colour palette.

House for Five is a home designed by an architect for his family in an area controlled by strict planning controls. See what he did…

Courtyard design using robust materials for a low-maintenance home that will age gracefully - perfect for a couple looking to retire.

A thin addition to this home creates new living spaces, but the bonus is a courtyard created by leaving space between existing and new.

This 1920s home was transformed by an extension that refocusses living areas and a master retreat on a new north-facing courtyard.

House_B is essentially a C-shape, wrapping around a central courtyard to maximise light and breezes to the home. That gets an A+ from us.

Set well away from the original house, this new addition creates a central courtyard which all living areas wrap around.

To construct this off-grid home on Victoria's French Island, prefabricated modules had to be transported by barge to the isolated site.

With an ageing population our homes must be designed to allow us to live in them as long as possible. This house shows us how.

New Zealand's notoriously changeable weather is dealt with at Norrish House by arranging rooms around a sheltering courtyard.

A central courtyard makes this inner city home feel spacious and light despite its modest size and materials.

A series of spaces at this small weekender create numerous places sit and enjoy the inspiring surrounds which are comfortable year round.

Discover how a 58m² two-story home optimises space for three generations, ensuring privacy and comfort in a compact family home design.

By creating outdoor covered spaces for dining and car parking Laneway House manages to pack a lot of space onto a tight site.

In this case, the Green House effect is the impact light and air can make to a family home for a florist…

Transformation of a century-old cottage into a share house for mother and adult daughter with space for bonding and personal retreats.

If you're an introvert you'll know that the world we live in can be overwhelming at times. Sometimes you need somewhere to hideout...

A warm new home for a young family wraps around a courtyard space to create a protected area for the kids to play and the family to enjoy the stunning ocean views.

A bayside extension clad inside and out in timber battens blurs the functional and decorative.

This coastal cottage proves that quality always trumps quantity. The small house will age gracefully thanks to quality materials.

Since the cows moved out, this old shed has been transformed into a modern home for humans

A series of expert moves brings in more light, improves livability and connects this terrace to its courtyard all without extending.

On a long, narrow site, a courtyard is cleverly cut into this addition to allow the sun to stream into new living spaces.

By pulling this extension away from the exiting house, the architects created sunny courtyards and maximised the natural light.

Long Courtyard House reorients the typical courtyard to the side of the house to bring in North light and create indoor/outdoor living.

Vader House emerges from behind its high boundary wall to disrupt Fitzroy's typical roofline and breathe new life into this Victorian Terrace.

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!

The location was right. But it would take a lot of imagination and a leap of faith to transform this dilapidated shed into a home...

Following the traditional layout at the front, this modern Queenslander defies expectations to create a vibrant modern home.

Others overlooked this heritage-listed home because of its exposure on three sides, but a playful addition turns it into an asset.

Pooling for a pool: would you join forces with your parents to create the ultimate inner-city pad complete with a rooftop pool?

A private, yet light-filled coastal home is the perfect fit for a retired couple, with plenty of room for visitors.

By dividing a complicated inner-city block into a patchwork, a new home sits comfortably between heritage buildings and gritty laneway.

In spite of a compact footprint, this home feels spacious and light thanks to a completely non-existent fourth wall.

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.

Through high quality design, the compact Darlinghurst Apartment provides an affordable option for inner city living…

The Armadale House addition creates an open plan living area with a great connection to the garden, maximising the small site.

A Miesian inspired glass pavilion in a rural landscape setting not dissimilar to that portrayed in a Claude Monet painting…

On a site covered in mature trees, Under Pohutukawa House is designed to represent the stumps of trees removed for construction.

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.

Named Soe Ker Tie (Butterfly) Houses by the workers on site, these six innovative pavilions provide affordable accomodation for Thai orphans.

Paling Fence House by NASA (National Architecture Space Agency) manages to fit a modern and spacious family home into an Australian suburban backyard.

Responding to its unique landscape and climate, this home is the kind we should be building in Australia, not more McMansions.

This flexible beach house is the perfect surf trips big and small because it's focussed on the outdoors to create extra living space.

With numerous facets to bounce light around the home, Cloud House feels like living in a cloud surrounded by beautiful, diffused light.

From the street, this looks like a house with no windows, but once inside you realise it's the exact opposite...

A home previously owned by the client's Grandmother wasn't a good fit for a young family. An innovative extension changes all that.

Bisley Place House is a suburban home built for family life and interaction. Bending the rules creates an incredible indoor-outdoor space for the family.

Focussing on natural light and outlooks to greenery has creates a private sanctuary despite being in the middle of the action

You don't envisage a townhouse when you think of country town living, but this architect's own home is perfect for her family.

This granny (and gramps) flat is the perfect place for a retired couple to call home: close to family, yet private and comfortable.

A home rich with character is updated to improve comfort, privacy and connection to the landscape without losing its vintage feel.

A rear extension takes advantage of a North-facing backyard to connect to the garden and generate electricity for the whole house.

Finding a way to create a private retreat space for the parents of a growing family plus extra storage area in a heritage home...

Even after a reduction in total size, this renovation works better than the previous cluster of poorly considered renovations.

Sandwiched between weatherboard cottages in Brunswick East, C House breaks with convention to create a warm, unique and nuanced home.

Befitting a regionally based sculptor, Sawmill House is a hand crafted upgrade from his existing rather rustic bohemian abode.

A modest, energy efficient home in New Zealand's spectacular wine country makes the most of sweeping views…

A Launceston suburb renowned for its Californian Bungalows gets a new development that reinterprets the iconic style for modern, medium density living.

Creative ways to bring more light into the home, even when the backyard doesn't get much sun, makes this home light-filled and airy.

Even a block in a typical housing estate can benefit from an architect's touch, creating a home that's a joy to live in year-round...

In many ways, Feng Shui aligns with the principles of good design. Here, Feng Shui achieves a light, harmonious and delightful home.

Three distinct pavilions create the breathing room needed for maximum light and breezes on this narrow inner-city block.

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.

When a couple who both have homes designed by the same architect get married, their new home together is bound to be adventurous!

Lean-tos aren't renowned for their good design, but rethinking the classic design led to a functional and flexible home for this family.

The clever design for this challenging site allows the home to deal with the threat of bushfire, while still taking in the views.

By designing a new, open-plan addition to this heritage home, the owner has a light-filled space to inspire his creativity.

Sub-tropical climates require a special approach to design to ensure they are comfortable in the sticky summers and the cool winters.

A new addition prioritises light and a connection to the garden, transforming this 1940s house into an uplifting and modern home.

Splitting this home into two separate pavilions creates flexible spaces which also solves a number of challenges.

A decked courtyard connects this existing home and extension, providing light, breezes and an indoor-outdoor connection to old and new.

In a street of single-storey timber houses, this playful new home reinterprets its neighbours so it feels at home in the street.

Arranged around three courtyards, this new open-plan extension is a delightful counterpoint to the existing Californian Bungalow.

At first, Lookout House looks like a whacky modern barn, but through the sliding barn door a wonderful courtyard house with spectacular views unfolds.

A series of insertions into this period home injects light deep into the plan, making it modern and bright in-spite of its age.

Once home to the local milkman, this quaint cottage has been transformed into a light and bright home with a surprising sense of space.

This new addition is unquestionably modern, but it has an enduring, timeless quality which makes old and new perfect companions.

Want a sustainable home, but don't know where to start? An architect can help you create a comfortable, sustainable home...

The good qualities of both old and new are highlighted by creating an addition which is the binary opposite of the original.

Beachside towns were once dotted with simple fibro beach shacks. This modern home reinterprets that classic style.

A new studio space and garage are positioned on this rural property to create a sheltered entry for the exisiting home.

If your neighbours are too close for comfort, focus on natural light. Your home will feel spacious and you'll forget they're there...

"Our clients now enjoy a home flexible enough to allow for their family to grow, without creating excessive rooms."

This robust home for a family of six will be knocked about by the young family and accumulate character through the passage of time.

At Datum House the ceiling height, rather than extra square meters, creates a generous and varied sense of space (without the cost).

A previously dark terrace is transformed into a light and bright home with the help of some unusual 'light cannons'.

A palette of masonry, timber & stone is pushed to their physical limits. Fairbairn House is a material delight…

Islington House brings sunlight deep into the home and shows off the personality of its owners. A unique home for a unique couple.

Previously an overgrown garden and outbuildings, this space is now the perfect self-contained guest retreat facing a rear laneway.

Every good architectural story needs a hero. In this renovation, it's a striking bookshelf which screens a work-from-home space...

Passive solar principles, high-quality yet affordable materials and thoughtful design brings high-quality housing within reach.

Previously a general store, this South Melbourne terrace is now a light-filled family home while retaining its character and quirks.

Living near the beach has its pros and cons. A great beach house needs to embrace the sunshine while protecting from cold ocean winds.

We love simple projects that make a big difference. And it doesn't get much simpler than a sunroom and a fence.

This compact family home uses the power of the sun for heating and cooling, keeping a family of six happy and comfortable.

'Ethel' has a number of delightful surprises up her sleeve, proving there's more to this humble Victorian home than she lets on...

An internal renovation which opens up spaces and turns the house upside down to put living areas on the brighter, airier, upper floor.

Never underestimate the power of a well-designed outdoor living area to transform your home. This clever verandah is a great example.

Melaleuca House was designed to embrace an outdoor lifestyle for a family relocating from Darwin to more rural Howard Springs.

An extensive renovation of a Melbourne home gives the owners all the benefits of inner-city terrace living without the drawbacks.

In contrast the cellular plan of the existing Federation-era home, this light extension is open-plan where spaces overlap and interact.

Defying gravity, a protected timber box for sleeping zones sits on top of a glass box for living in this renovation of a Sydney semi...

The use of up to 75 per cent recycled timber as structure and cladding brings warmth and variety to this modern beach house.

Thanks to some clever new touches, this tired beach house now takes full advantage of its site overlooking lush rainforest.

In an effort to find more space for a growing and ageing family, Andrew Maynard Architects created a home that has shared space and more private zones.

Even with close neighbours, carefully positioned skylights and double-height spaces make this home feel private, bright and spacious.

Sliding cedar shutters provide this otherwise glass box with shelter, privacy and a camouflage cloak — preparing it for every situation.

From distant water views to the nearby sculptural native trees, Bass Street Residence angles itself to take it all in…

Winscombe Extension deals with a growing family and a strong desire to establish a connection to the manicured rear garden…

A new house set in a compact urban site, Woollahra House has a relaxed yet rich garden landscape of indoor and outdoor rooms.

By replacing space lost to the renovation with a roof deck, Stick House ensures not a millimetre of outdoor space is sacrificed.

Trentham Long House treads the line between old-fashioned simplicity and the conveniences of contemporary life.

Local House is playful and intriguing — designed more like a favourite local café than a private house — creating spaces for connection and bonding.

The narrow Left-Over-Space House demonstrates what can be achieved on the myriad of ‘left-over’ spaces in our inner-cities.

The weatherboards on this extension compress, extend upwards and weave over the facade in a modern interpretation of the traditional weatherboard cottage.

The Great Ocean Road House proves that extraordinary locations sometimes call for a simple architectural solution.

A fun extension for a young family is unashamedly contemporary, but takes its architectural cues from the house it expands on.

Designed more like a sophisticated tent than your traditional home, The Mook can be built on any site with minimal disturbance.

Tang House is a compact but thoughtful terrace extension that utilizes every nook and cranny to create a versatile home that defies its size.

Edwards Moore Architects's Cubby House is a pint-sized apartment packed full of fun. A cubby house made not for kids, but for sophisticated adults.

Turn an existing clothing warehouse into a bold new home without losing its industrial aesthetic? Let's see how it turned out...

A terrace house typically makes you think, long, narrow and dark. This terrace might be long and narrow, but it's also light and lush!

With the site's Bushfire Attack Level of Flame Zone, achieving the incredible expanses of glazing took incredible attention to detail.

Originally a parsonage for the neighbouring church, this historic home has been transformed with a contemporary addition.

An addition to this mid-century gem keeps the essence of the original while ensuring it's fit for family life in this century.

Unusually-shaped boundaries can be a challenge, particularly on sites as tight as this; you've got to turn a challenge into an asset!

Imagine if all our inner-city homes were eco-friendly urban farms: what a difference we could make! Here's what that might look like...

The lace-like screen protecting the rear of this home is a way to tie old and new together while also dealing with practicalities.

Buying an extra slice of land from the owners' corporation enabled this 1960s one-bedroom unit to become a modern three-bedroom home.

This family were miserable in their south-facing living areas, but thanks to a clever addition, their home is now light and bright.

A double-height space. An internal courtyard. A huge skylight. All tricks to create a sense of space hidden behind a narrow terrace.

Application of passive design principles creates a living, breathing, sustainable space that is a pleasure to inhabit.

These two homes are built on a pier structure that highlights their unique creek-side location near the Mornington foreshore.

Watch the clouds float by in this home which has an unexpected sense of space and light in spite of its narrow, overshadowed site.

Reclaimed bricks are used in various ways to bring a sense of history and weight to this inner-city extension.

Alterations to the rear of this house to draw in green vistas, sunlight and cooling breezes making the most of the weather year-round.

In the inner city it's not always wise to rely on an aspect. In the case of Diagonal House it made sense to embrace a sunny northern aspect.

Set in a lush tropical rainforest, Planchonella House, is a raw and honest home that takes full advantage of its incredible views.

The prefabricated Collingwood House fits easily into its tight urban site, without feeling squeezed for space.

A large suburban home for an extended family in the suburbs doesn't need to look and feel like a cookie cutter McMansion…

Small but with delight, M House looks at how a modest renovation can make a positive contribution to the way a family live.

Like all good beach houses, Marcus Beach House explores lightness, filtering natural breezes and integrating indoor/outdoor spaces.

Architect Peter Miglis lists “light, space, and air” as the elements that form great architecture; he has incorporated all three into his own home.

You can't see the sea from this modern beach house. Undeterred by the lack of view, it faces a sheltered internal courtyard instead.

Some call the 1960's cream brick house ugly but this one has transformed into a spacious family home suited to its semi-arid climate.

The craftsmanship of the Arts and Crafts period has been skillfully reinterpreted to create a modern extension which feels right at home next to the original home.

If you arrived at this house blindfolded, you might assume you were in a secluded jungle house. But you're actually just 3km from the heart of Sydney!

Profile House is an extension that pays homage to the varied buildings in Brunswick East. BLOXAS Architects created an unexpected space inside, and out.

A double garage has the perfect amount of space for a new multi-functional studio the owners will get far more use out of.

Modern homes can be criticised for lacking character, but modern doesn't need to equal sterile.

On the corner of two main thoroughfares, a new room conceived as a large balcony gives this home a way to connect with the community.

With modular, off-site construction you can remove the headaches of extending your home and still end up with a beautiful result.

A relatively modest-sized home feels more spacious and comfortable thanks to its connection to and interaction with five garden spaces.

With views over the golf course, the architect achieved a mid-century-inspired design, while adhering to local design guidelines.

A breakout area and new master bedroom within a self-contained white box give this Fremantle home more flexibility and room to breathe.

In contrast to the neighbouring weatherboard houses, this crisp, modern modular home makes a huge statement in this Melbourne street.

Designing a family home is challenging because the family's needs change as they grow, that's why you have to plan for change.

This understated addition to an historic sandstone cottage is designed to age and weather gracefully to fit into its surrounds.

One of Balmain's earliest homes, a humble sandstone cottage, is renovated to reveal its inherent beauty - revealing layers of history.

Brick Bay House's L-shaped plan has a number of benefits - sheltering from winds, blocking road noise and embracing the ocean view.

The brick exterior of Five Courts House belies its light-filled interior which surrounds five courtyards arranged around the perimeter.

A reinterpretation of a traditional terrace home keeps council happy, while a series of courtyards inject life into the home.

Everyone needs a bit of sunshine in their lives. That's why Bow House goes out of its way to let the sunshine in.

Elliott Ripper House is a prime example of how a well designed, harmonious extension can provide much more than extra floor space.

A clever design captures bush views and sunlight and turns away from the neighbours so you feel like you're in a world of your own...

Getting light into living areas with a south-facing backyard is tricky. Here it's handled elegantly for an efficient and bright home.

Access to natural light is so important, yet often overlooked. With thoughtful design, your home can be light and bright year-round.

An addition which doesn't overshadow the original heritage house, but improves the home's spaciousness, access to light and the yard.

At 52 square metres, this two-storey terrace was about the same size as a two-bedroom apartment, now there's space to entertain guests.

This addition to a post-war brick home has a trick up its sleeve to guarantee access to sunlight despite the backyard facing south.

Defying its narrow site, challenging east-west orientation and heritage restrictions, this skinny home manages to feel spacious.

A beautiful new living space wrapping around a courtyard deck plus main bedroom suite creates the perfect home for a family of six.

Shop tops in Victorian-era buildings are often dark and often empty these days, talk about a wasted opportunity!

Renovating is a messy art full of compromise but, if you roll with it, the result can be the perfect-imperfect home for your family.

With a block of just 117 square metres, this inner-city reno required some creative thinking to make the most of all available space...

Renovating a heritage house the right way means you can enjoy the benefits of a modern home while respecting the house's history.

An addition to the front is just one of the atypical parts of this project full of surprises and innovative solutions.

Queenslander-style homes capture breezes and create shaded, naturally cool living spaces. This addition takes it to the next level.

Inspired by a nearby converted factory, this home brings its own spin to the saw-tooth roofline and the inspiration doesn't stop there.

With an incredible site just one street from the beach and close to the city, these architects built their ideal family home.

On a tight, south-facing site, the various spaces of this addition are expertly arranged to ensure maximum benefit with minimal fuss.

At this minimal home, the space in between the living area and bedrooms is just as crucial as the spaces themselves.

When you need to fit a lot onto a small block, forget market expectations and look for light and functionality to suit your family.

Rather than dedicate space to rooms that will rarely be used, create versatile spaces and spend your remaining budget on luxuries...

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?

This home's meticulous maintenance record details upkeep such as 'biannual repainting'. It was in A1 condition, but still needed modernising.

At the top of the hill overlooking Peka Peka Beach, this location could be hostile, but this home has a few tricks up its sleeve...

Datum House uses the scale and proportions of its neighbours as the starting point for a modern and light-filled home.

Brunswick has a rich history of bluestone quarries and brickworks. Quarry House updates a Victorian terrace with this history in mind.

This considered addition capitalises on good qualities of the home and fixes the less than ideal. What can be saved in your addition?

With copious amounts of timber inside and out, this modern interpretation of a workers cottage feels natural, warm and welcoming.

By building an extension at the end of a narrow site, Austin Maynard Architects created a courtyard instead of a typical light-well.

This renovation shines with a light well bringing light deep into the house, bright red accents and pops of personality throughout...

The unusual roof of the small but effective addition is the real winner - providing plenty of light to the small, overshadowed site.

This modern beach house wraps around courtyards and open spaces to blur the lines between inside and out - perfect for a beach retreat.

A playful rear addition maximises the possibilities for outdoor living, while bringing light and fresh breezes into the living area.

This welcoming house has a verandah so generous it blurs the line between a courtyard house and a traditional Australian verandah.

Rectifying a poorly planned '90s renovation this new courtyard arrangement lets in plenty of light and feels more spacious than ever.

The timber-clad Links Courtyard House prioritises simplicity over size leaving more of the budget for beautiful indulgent finishes.

A new compact living pavilion defies its size thanks to plenty of glass and sliding doors — effortlessly connecting home and garden.

A 1960s Architect-designed home undergoes 21st Century transformation into a gracious new house fit for modern living.

At West End Cottage by Vokes and Peters, the new work preserves and extends the pattern of rooms in respect of the existing plan…

Set around three internal courtyards, Bridge House 2 manages to escape the bustle of Brunswick without sacrificing its sense of place.

Sit down and enjoy the sunset. This prefabricated home, built in just 14 weeks, is designed to take advantage of panoramic views.

Jones House is a home designed for Australian conditions proving architectural ideas can be achieved without big budgets and costly construction methods.

This Melbourne Refurbishment rearranges spaces in line with modern living, but doesn't forget to have fun along the way…

At Alexandria House 2 full height glazing and louvers let the house breathe and skylights are used strategically to maximise natural light…

A stronger connection to the exterior courtyards with concealed sliding doors, for access to light, fresh air and aspect.

By wrapping an extension against the boundary, Boundary House deals with awkward residual spaces and improves access to light.

Raven Street House brings new meaning to 'open-plan' with curtains, shutters and dazzling colored glass where the walls should be. There's even an indoor tree!

Yarra Street House is a pavilion-style extension designed to fit perfectly with a family who loves cooking, outdoor living and entertaining in style.

Elm and Willow House's walls seem to vanish. The living area is neither indoor, nor outdoor space -- the entire yard becomes a part of the house.

Mount Ninderry House is a sustainable house that takes full advantage of its stunning natural setting without the extra cost. And check out that pool!

You wouldn't expect a modest, low-budget renovation in Sydney's luxe suburb Tamarama. Despite the budget, this house has some Tamarama glamor -- Glamarama.

House Eadie proves it's possible to retain unique quirks and a sense of history while integrating new, multifunctional spaces for contemporary living.

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.

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...

Going against the status quo in this beach town, sustainability meets style in a thermally-consistent, biophilic, family home.

Architect attempts to design her own renovation of a 1950s stunner while heavily pregnant. What could possibly go wrong?

Ditch the retirement village with this private accessible luxury retirement home filled with light and sustainability features...

With just 75 square metres and an awkward floor plan, this downsizing couple have a stunning, space-efficient and functional home.

An expansive renovation and extension of this suburban cottage has transformed it into a stunning family home filled with light…

Despite a tall neighbour to the north, this renovated home is full of light and lush views. Plus, they were able to disconnect the gas.

Folded perfectly, the 10-fold roofline of this home grabs the light and views of treetops and provides privacy from neighbours.

Much of the charm of this original Edwardian cottage had been removed, painted over and, in some cases, plastered over.

With clever planning and bringing light and framed views in at every opportunity, this long, narrow site feels surprisingly spacious.

Old homes are full of character. By carefully marrying old and new in a renovation, you can retain some of that warmth and personality.

Redbrick and terracotta-tiled Californian Bungalows are beautiful homes, but they can be dark. Here's a bright solution...

While retaining as much of the original house for cost and environmental reasons, this home is completely transformed.

Half greenhouse, half barn; despite being in a dense inner suburb, this home means it feels like it could be in the country!

Far from the classic box-like addition, a series of unique spaces unfurl from the rear of the cottage, opening up to light and garden.

The front verandah of this Californian Bungalow is reinterpreted at the rear of the home to create a shady outdoor living space.

Not that you'd know it now, but this sleek, modern-Japanese-inspired home was once a tired '70s brick pad and what a transformation!

This beach house is all about creating informal living spaces, decks and shelter from the sun and wind for optimum beachside living.

It's amazing how high ceilings can offer your home an extra sense of space, just take a look at this light and bright example...

A beach house doesn't need to feel like a glass box on stilts, this home feels intimate while still celebrating the views.

With the option of renovating or selling, this family chose to renovate to stay in the area they, but that was easier said than done!

This post-war brick house has been transformed into a stylish modern home with a thoughtful addition and creative reworking.

Some clever solutions mean even a home on a long, narrow block can capture scenic, wraparound views of the ocean.

This new home in a semi-rural estate balances a sense of space with a need for privacy so the shift from the farm life isn't so hard.

This modular home was designed and built off-site and then transported to its remote location where it now takes in stunning views.

Making the most of the site's assets, this new addition overlooks the lush park behind the home to stunning effect.

It's difficult to imagine how this tight block in a laneway could become a functional and spacious home and office, but they did it!

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.

With housing (un)affordability growing and our city limits bursting, this project shows us there's still space in the inner city.

To grab light without taking over the backyard, this addition pops its head over the original home, saying peekaboo to the street!

With a folded roof form and charred timber cladding, Pleated House has plenty of flair for its design-conscious owners.

Originally a simple apartment renovation project turned into something more after discovering air rights would allow them to extend...

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.

The aperture-like addition to this heritage home carefully frames the best views and lets light into the new living spaces.

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.

Opening onto a huge deck, with incredible views from every room, you'll never guess what makes this country home so unique.

Three sculptural walls create nooks and niches within a larger open-plan space, creating the opportunity to mingle or seek solitude.

And he said, 'Let there be light', and there was light. Thanks to a new double height space, this cottage is transformed.

This modern home captures the spirit of mid-century design, with a taste of American diner-style breakfast booths for good measure.

These owners decided to work with what they had rather than start afresh. The result is a functional and character-filled home.

A home on a corner block maximises light without sacrificing privacy by reorienting to the north and some strategic clerestory windows.

Built in an area that sometimes encounters snow, this home in the hills has a small footprint, but large volumes make it feel spacious.

By designing a separate, self-contained studio, this family have gained the extra space they need now and flexibility into the future.

The kitchen is the heart of Chef and Restaurateur, Scott Pickett's home, making it the perfect place to entertain friends and family.

By working with the original roofline of this Federation home, the designer created a light-filled and spacious addition.

Inspired by the whimsical flourishes of the original 1930s home this renovation reinterprets brick sunbursts and Tudor detailing.

A deep soil green roof improves this home's environmental credentials, looks great and satisfies the owners' love of gardening.

This professional couple felt constrained by an outdated floor plan that sacrificed living areas for circulation and formal dining...

A series of small additions left this home's living areas dark and detached from the garden, but Trace Studio have changed all that.

Built for a family bursting with creative souls, this shack needed to be as stylish and as interesting as the people living in it.

Built on a challenging site with significant bushfire risk, this home enjoys amazing views over bushland in the Macedon Ranges.

Reimagining a heritage home to fulfil the modern needs of three generations of the one family, highlighting its layered history.

An unorthodox, but clever, renovation creates a series of light-filled flexible living spaces and creates the illusion of space.

A home set in an expansive garden is divided and sheltered into quadrants by cross-shaped Gabion baskets, creating a variety of spaces.

It can be costly, but moving the 'unmovable' like a bathroom or kitchen in your renovation could be the best decision you'll make.

Unlike many of the ubiquitous lean-to-style additions in the area, this modern lean-to transforms the original home.

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...

For cost efficiency this project creates two identical houses, but thanks to a clever folded facade each home fits the site.

With a living area facing a busy road, a separate and congested kitchen and an under-utilised backyard, this home needed flipping...

This modern home in an historic neighbourhood was designed by an architect as a home for him and his family.

If you want the look and feel of luxury at your home, it pays to think a bit smaller and pay attention to the details.

A small addition and internal reconfiguration of a '60s home designed by a renowned New Zealand architect makes it fit for a family.

Waitpinga Retreat designed as a casual getaway immersed in the natural beauty of nature looks and feels very Australian.

With the sun and a majestic tree in one direction and views of a distant nature reserve in the other, this home manages to have it all.

When this couple retired the farm they wanted a more manageable and contemporary home that incorporated memories of their past life.

Unashamedly modern ‘podium’ anchors existing home to the landscape, connecting the cottage to the garden, and the interiors to the sky.

New Zealand home and writer's studio fuses the look of rural farm buildings and the dramatic local landscape into one sculptural form.

Studio 19 are at it again, designing two stunning community houses for a not-for-profit organisation in New Zealand.

Small in both budget and footprint, but clever thinking and innovative solutions have produced a home which ticks all the boxes...

This converted warehouse in Fitzroy involved refitting of a beautiful old warehouse to become a flexible home for an extended family.

There's not much diversity (or sustainability) in your average project home. With a bit of luck, Erpingham House will change all that.

A rabbit warren-like early '90s apartment is transformed by C+M Studio into a chic coastal residence focusing on warm natural materials.

A Melbourne home designed by Alexandra Buchanan Architecture creates a cascade of contemporary family living spaces in a bushfire area.

'I want it to be kite-shaped' said no potential homeowner ever. And yet with this unusual site, a kite-shaped plan works well.

A balance of privacy and the celebration of communal spaces allows two generations to comfortably live together in this renovated home.

Home to a professional couple and Biggles the cat, this modern design aims to enhance the owners daily living experience. And succeeds.

A timber exoskeleton-like structure allows Great Barrier House to open onto its surrounds while lifting towards a hill to the west.

Timber's warmth and laid-back nature meets clean lines and expanses of glass to create a style that is sophisticated yet relaxed.

The compact Highway House takes full advantage of its difficult, but dramatic site — sitting lightly over Hobart and the Derwent River…

This modern warehouse home reinterprets the existing home style and feeling of the original home with modern flair.

Not every renovation project is a success. Luckily Beeston Street House has been recalibrated — from unsuccessful to a real delight.

Concrete House features a tapered concrete second story which focuses the view of a garden and the city beyond.

A cleverly designed holiday home enjoys beach views and opens directly to the garden but is screened by a mature Pohutukawa tree.

Sandhills Road House draws on the most basic and humble rural sights to create a stunning contemporary beach bach.

House C3 sits comfortably in its neighbourhood of 19th century workers' cottages neither shouting its modernity nor mimicking the neighbours.

Set in stunning surrounds Wakatipu Guest House is a two bedroom home that provides comfortable accommodation for up to eight people.

Hereston Gardenhouse pops up in a disused back yard and demonstrates a way to make cities more dense and (importantly) sustainable.

North Perth House sets out to prove an affordable yet generous family home can be constructed on a small inner city block.

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.

A contemporary extension of this Elsternwick House is clad in contrasting dark zinc to draw a very deliberate line between new and old.

As you round the corner of this quiet street, a cheery extension greets you. Quite literally… It says 'Hello'.

An original modernist home is extended out and up to create more flexible space for the modern family.

This new shack takes better advantage of the views and has enough space to host this multi-generational family during the holiday season.

Stonewood House is a modern, but sensitive home which sits comfortably with homes of heritage significance.

Talk about a constrained site - this light-filled addition is a small inner city block sandwiched between 14 adjacent properties.

In the middle of a bustling Vietnamese city, architects a21studio have designed a low-budget but high-style oasis for a renowned architecture writer.

A modern interpretation of the traditional granny flat is a very stylish summer pad for this family's grandparents from overseas.

A local shed company prefabricated this home, saving both time and cost. But Whyatt House doesn't look like a typical shed…

A house inspired by 20th Century naval camouflage. There's something you don't hear everyday…

Aireys Inlet House -- like all good second homes -- creates connection to nature in contrast to the clients' busy city lives.

Despite prescriptive council requirements, 10 (!) adjoining neighbors and a difficult orientation, this home defies the odds to become a light, welcoming retreat.

\"This exhilarating location with its towering eucalyptus trees and diminishing scars from that phenomenal day required a design response equally as unique.\

An unashamedly modern extension manages to integrate old and new by putting a modern spin on materials and colors from the original home.

Views in one direction access to the garden in the other? Which do you choose? At House Chapple, you can have both!

Tight site, stringent planning and heritage controls, and a difficult orientation -- Nic Owen Architects pull off the architectural equivalent of a miracle.

Hiding at the bottom of a London garden, this glowing writer's shed is the perfect whimsical escape for an author/illustrator who loves children's books.

This micro apartment is like an empty shell - to cook, dress, sleep, eat or entertain you have to rearrange modules and 'build' a new space. It's like lego!

Thornbury House might appear haphazardly crooked, but the angled facade doubles as a sunshade. This solar passive home is functional and visually appealing.

Tattoo House takes the conflicting wishes of the client, neighbors and council and creates a surprisingly leafy compromise everyone is delighted with.

Have you ever considered a house reduction as opposed to an extension? That's what MAKE Architecture did for their clients in their project, House Reduction.

Polygreen is a printed fiberglass box in a neighborhood of red brick warehouses. The contrast is striking - a home covered in vibrant green.

Two pavilions offset to capture light and views and create a sheltered courtyard help this home look and feel much larger than it is.

Just because your home is on a tight, inner-city site doesn't mean it can't feel spacious. You just need to use the right tricks!

The neighbours once dubbed this home the ugly duckling of the street, now they're green with envy at this stunning entertainer.

Moving from their large family home where the kids grew up, this family opted for a modern home closer to the things they love.

A new family home to complete this farm complex takes advantage of views over rolling hills and complements the existing buildings.

When you think of ageing in place, you might imagine ramps, grab rails and a lot of linoleum. But it doesn't have to be that way...

Good design means you can live larger with less, meaning this compact home feels bright, spacious and surrounded by greenery.

Looks can be deceiving. Hidden behind this narrow frontage is a spacious, light-filled and fun home thanks to a recent renovation.

Transforming a 1960s apricot-brick unit into the perfect bachelor pad meant rethinking the space and adapting what was already there...

This home, inspired by a jewellery box, is perfect for your most treasured people and possessions: beautiful, safe and ordered.

The only way was up at this home, but renovating meant this family were able to achieve everything they wanted without having to move.

'It's the way things have always been done' doesn't mean it's the best solution! Questioning the norm can unlock hidden gold...

With hints of those classic beach houses, but all the modern needs of a family home, living here would feel like an endless holiday.

This space-defying addition proves just because you don't have a lot of space to extend doesn't mean you can't make a big impact.

For an artist who collects all things astonishing and strange, a renovation helps to show off her unique style and flair.

Sadly lighting is an afterthought in many homes, but not here: a special lighting system demonstrates the potential of lighting design.

This addition to a historic bluestone farmhouse doesn't match the original building, but it pays its respects in its own way...

These owners didn't want a 'generic open-plan box'. Instead, a series of interconnected rooms are linked by a dramatic brick colonnade.

Emulating the solidity of the original 150-year-old cottage, this concrete and brick addition is sure to be around in another 150 years!

In spite of a narrow block, this home expands its interior to the edge of the site, blurring the line between indoors and outdoors.

This home defies its tight site by using screening and careful window placement to grab light and views without exposing itself.

A pavilion surrounded by garden brings living closer to the river, creating an additional living space with incredible views.

Bringing a sense of space and plenty of natural light to a narrow block is tough, but clever design and engineering make it possible.

With exposed structure and a galley-style kitchen, this renovation takes its cues from the economical and practical fit-out of a ship.

The small, pokey and often dark spaces of many older homes don’t provide the space young families need, but you can change that...

A creative design for two new townhouses defies many of the qualities of these types of developments to create bright and breezy homes.

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.

Extending heritage homes respectfully is a challenge. Allowing this addition to recede into the shadows was the sensitive approach.

When the inhabitants of your suburban fringe block include a number of old native trees, mimic their style and go timber all over.

This home takes advantage of its location near the Botanic Gardens to create a living area which feels like an extension of the garden.

Sometimes the constraints that can make a project more difficult end up creating something unique and wonderful.

An architect, a builder, and a joiner walk into a dark and dingy terrace...

This heritage home has been renovated with new living spaces. A covered outdoor space ties all these new spaces together.

This home manages to be thoroughly modern while mimicking the classic gabled form of children's drawings and doll's houses.

A delightfully fun, cubby-like folly at the bottom of the garden provides extra space and encourages the full use of the garden.

This compact home was made even smaller yet better, proving the amount of space you have is less important than how you use it...

Parents' retreat, teen hideaway, granny flat or rental earner — the function of this self contained extension can change over time.

If fur-babies, travel, colour and fun are ticking some mental boxes for you, you'll love Casa de Gatos (or 'House of Cats' in Spanish).

With low ceilings and only the rear of this living area above ground level, this terrace needed something big to feel like a home...

Black sheep. Odd one out. Dark horse. Whatever you want to call it, there's something different about this home - and we love it!

Small changes can make a huge difference to the comfort and practicality of a home. New windows and a pivot door transform this studio.

This striking house of contrasting black and white with touches of warming timber is exciting and dynamic in-spite of its compact size.

Measuring in at just 11 square metres of additional space, this tiny addition punches above its weight for its size.

At just 36 square metres, this compact yet thoughtful addition creates space for cooking, eating, writing, sitting and more...

Orientation is the best way to make your home feel light and bright. So what can you do when your home faces the wrong way?

You can tell something's different about this heritage home from the moment you see the lime green door and pastel green walls...

An alteration and addition to the home this couple have lived in for three decades blends in with the surrounding sheds and garages...

Dealing with poor orientation this North-facing cloistered space acts as circulation and additional indoor/outdoor living space.

Older homes typically face two problems: lack of natural light and poor planning. A glazed atrium dining room solves both issues here.

Inspired by the surrounding '60s estate, James Russell Architects takes the humble breeze block to new heights of style.

Parts of the original house are left intact to create sheltered outdoor areas in this renovation, grounding the home to its history.

A stainless steel net for growing deciduous vines wraps this narrow home, transforming it into a nest for vertical family living.

A lot of mistakes were made in the '80s, Nic Owen Architects attempts to rectify one of them with a modern pod-like extension.

Jost Architects mediate heritage controls and an eager client brief to deliver a delightful update to an inter-war home.

Skin-Box House is a compact but refined home that maximises the sense of space with full height glass and quality materials...

Like a giant three dimensional puzzle this home defies its tight block with no views, houses on each side and a high wall to the north.

Too often homes dictate how we should live. Upside Down Back to Front House is different — a redesign suits how the owners really live.

A detailed but classic palette, combined with expert attention to detail helps Paddington Terrace age gracefully as its family grows.

A home on the family property for a retiring couple, Storrs Road House aims to reflect in miniature the site and its history.

On an extremely small parcel of land Beach Avenue House is designed more like a finely crafted joinery unit than a typical home.

To preserve the bushy site, Cora House was built off-site and then carried onto site by hand - a remarkable feat of ingenuity and preservation.

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.

An eclectic couple of homes in Sydney's Marrickville demonstrates a new model for urban consolidation…

A Collection of Spaces new spaces arranged around two courtyards revitalises a traditional worker's cottage without compromising its historical significance.

Thanks to a clever refurbishment this South Melbourne House becomes a communal multi-zoned space in keeping with the family's desire to live and work together.

Sitting in an historic neighbourhood, House in House. Inside and out, it's a surprising alternative to its dark row house neighbours.

After stripping back years of unthoughtful additions, Richmond House receives a bright and modern interpretation of a lean-to.

The owners of Matai House lived in this early 1900s home for several years before the alterations, so they knew what needed to change!

Heritage controls, difficult soil, tight access and a small west-facing block. A delightful, light-filled home on a difficult site…

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.

Seaview House is made up of a series of pavilions, designed to fit in with neighbouring old weatherboard cottages without sacrificing contemporary appeal…

A pulley system extending through the atrium of this House Bruce Alexander is designed so the owners can store bicycles and winch them out of view.

Bridport Residence extension grabs northern light and creates a quiet safe haven to the rear of the property.

Instead of a generic mass-built home, this family built a home designed to suit their lifestyle and the sub-tropical Brisbane climate.

After a number of minor additions over the years, Patterson Street Residence is reinvigorated with a modern extension to the rear.

A combination of good design and plenty of storage makes inner city downsize house feel just as spacious as the owners' previous home.

James Russell Architects' distinctive tropical style shines through in this climate-sensitive weatherboard house extension.

Modest extension creates an infinitely more liveable home compared to a previously gloomy and confused hodgepodge of poor additions.

Don't be deceived by the curved exterior. Abbotsford Residence is rational -- inside and out -- to deal with a heavily constrained site.

Can you spot a Japanese influence in Engawa House? 'Engawa' is an exterior hallway on Japanese homes -- the inspiration for this new extension.

The age-old advice is to buy the worst house on the best street. Doll's House was the smallest house in the trendiest neighborhood, does that count?

Karri Loop House has two irregular-shaped courtyards which are centered around three majestic native Australian trees. This is what happens when trees are given the chance to shine.