HARRY & VIV’S HOUSE

Ha Architects turned a modest Melbourne terrace into a home with unexpected spatial relationships while retaining its heritage façade.

UPSTAIRS, DOWNSTAIRS

The modest scale of the single-fronted, single-story terrace is integral to the character of the original architecture. The new work was carried out within the bounds of its original footprint, while a new upper level that contains the primary bedroom is set back 18 meters and scaled to be invisible from street level. The result is a contrast between the unchanged external façade and the appearance of the new internal spaces.

View from living area to the kitchen and dining space heading to the courtyard

Project Type: Residential home

Location: Melbourne, Australia

Architect: Ha Architecture

Photographer: Dan Hocking

SMART ILLUMINATION

Inside, the spatial remodel plays on this contrast. The central hall is a double-height void with natural light that filters down into the core of the home via skylight apertures set into the roof. Because opportunities for glazing were limited, the architect created moveable interior shutters in the wall that bring some of this light into the primary bedroom and allow the residents to control both light and privacy.

View from the side of upstairs includes the living and dining space alongwith the kitchen area

BLURRING BOUNDARIES

The kitchen and living space create a connection with the outside world through their materiality, the tonal palette, and the glazed doors that, when open, make it feel as though dining is taking place in the courtyard. To maximize the modest amount of space available, the design breaks down the boundaries between zones. The kitchen is located in the center, with the dining space on one side and the living room on the other.