The owners of this new 3-unit development in an established character area of the Town of Victoria Park had lived in an existing home on the site for many years, and approached us to help them downsize in situ. Rather than sub-dividing the block and selling the land, they wanted to create a cohesive design response that prioritised overall amenity and quality for all three new homes.  

Although the resulting units were designed to compete with the ‘spec home’ market, we imbued each of them with the spatial qualities and connections to liveable outdoor spaces that all of our projects are known for. 

To achieve this within a tight budget, we used mass building products and techniques and emphasised the raw finish of those materials, rather than trying to conceal them with render and cladding. 

This enabled us to reduce the overall costs associated with ‘finishing’ the build, and to divert those funds towards the often-overlooked elements of landscaping and gardens. This approach increases the ratio of planting across the site, and reduces the area given over to hard surfaces, such as concrete driveways and paving. 

This project demonstrates that it’s possible to sensitively and affordably densify existing suburbs while retaining the built character and landscaping qualities that make these neighbourhoods so appealing for residents and visitors.

Status: Completed – 2020

Project Type: Multi-residential – group dwellings

Client: Private

Materials: Masonry, Timber