What starts as a 32 square meter worker’s cottage on a suburban street in North Melbourne gives way to something bigger and bolder in the back yard. Pass through the first cottage and waiting in the rear is a newly built, standalone property designed to house the family who had outgrown the cottage in front. The most striking thing about the Canning Street house is the harmonious interior atmosphere that washes over the images like a filter of tranquillity. This was the intention of the clients, who, with the help of Fooman Architects, created a two-level home whose mix of color and material achieved a level of harmony that would make the relatively compact space feel uplifting.
Timber, tiles, and a series of warm beiges, caramels, and off whites create a flowing familiarity throughout the home and into the garden, paired with a floorplan that allows the family to consciously organise life into spaces carved out in the early plans. Soft lines are added to the interior divide with a curving ceiling that swings low over the kitchen and dining area before sweeping upwards toward the second level. Reeded glass windows throughout the space make sure to introduce abundant natural light to both levels, while creating a sense of privacy with their subtle obscuration.
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Elsewhere in Melbourne, see a minimalist family home in the suburbs, and discover the city’s hippest hotel – a series of airstreams in a rooftop parking lot.
Photography © Eve Wilson for Fooman Architects