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A family home where life revolves around a light filled atrium. This project involved a complete renovation of a two-storey terrace house in South Melbourne for a busy family with two teenage children. It explores how spaces can encourage interconnectedness between occupants and give them opportunity for separation and retreat.

This refurbishment of an existing double storey terrace house in South Melbourne opens up the entire ground floor and encloses an existing courtyard to create a communal multi-level family space that incorporates a lounge, quiet sitting room, studio and dining/kitchen areas. The family’s values of living and working together underpin all aspects of this project.

At its core, a sculpted timber stair wraps around a sky lit void and acts as a central ‘node’ connecting the main living space with a first floor studio, concealed master bedroom and children’s bedroom zone. The material palette incorporates an existing concrete floor that was ground and polished to expose the bluestone aggregate. A playful infill of green carpet identifies the former courtyard. Crafted timber and stone joinery elements are offset against soft white walls to create a light, serene space with a natural, refined aesthetic.

Although constrained within the walls of the existing envelope this project resulted in an unexpected and adaptable home that forms a surprisingly comfortable backdrop to everyday family life.

Light House
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Professionals used in
Light House

About the
Professional

Mitsuori Architects is a design led practice focused on the creation of enduring and innovative architecture that is uniquely reflective of its place, environment and the people that inhabit it.

Founded in 2008 by Matthew Murfett & Melissa Lim, our practice directors bring together large-scale project experience and technical expertise with the personalised service and attention to detail of a small boutique design practice. Both have worked with world renowned architectural practices on major cultural, commercial, residential and interior design projects in Australia, UK, Europe and the USA. Their departure from iconic city scale projects was inspired by a desire to explore the craft of architecture on a personal scale, and create buildings that are respectful of the past, reflective of the present and robust for the future.

At its core we believe the design process is a journey of discovery, translation and creation. Ours is a collaborative journey shared openly with our clients, design team, specialist fabricators and builders. We focus on producing well designed and executed architectural outcomes delivered by an experienced and cohesive team.

We believe environmentally and socially sustainable design are fundamental to the design of buildings and urban spaces. From the outset, these values influence site response, building orientation/configuration, selection of products, materials and technologies, and ultimately the technical resolution of structure and envelope.

At Mitsuori, we celebrate how architecture can change our experience of a place and influence how we shape our environment.

At ArchiPro we recognise and acknowledge the existing, original and ancient connection Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have to the lands and waterways across the Australian continent. We pay our respects to the elders past and present. We commit to working together to build a prosperous and inclusive Australia.