Brunswick House

Set amidst a leafy, residential street in Brunswick, we were commissioned by our clients to bring new life back into this Victorian double-fronted home. Set on a compact site of just over 300m2, and within a heritage overlay, the challenge here was to maximise both space and light, whilst respecting the original dwelling and the associated planning parameters. The original single-level home was in a poor state of disrepair, with a dysfunctional layout and dark internal spaces with little connection to the rear garden. In addition to refurbishing the front four rooms of the existing dwelling, our proposal included a new rear addition split across two levels, with a central feature stair and a north-facing internal courtyard, drawing natural light into the centre of the home. The design concept plays on the symmetry and proportions of the existing double-fronted façade, with the ground floor addition featuring a series of brick colonnades, which frame the elegant steel pivot doors opening to the garden. In contrast to the solid masonry of the ground floor addition, the upper floor was designed as a lightweight metal box, which floats above the lower level. The symmetry of the ground floor façade is replicated at first floor, with vertical fins providing privacy to the master bedroom whilst responding to the required planning constraints. Location: Brunswick, VIC. Size: 164m2.