As the new custodians of a storied Ivanhoe residence, our client wanted to seamlessly transform two separate dwellings into a single, cohesive four-bedroom home that supports their lifestyle while inherently respecting the property’s cultural significance.

The Guilford Bell and Neil Clerehan-designed set of two residences is hailed as one of Australia’s first examples of architect-designed multigenerational homes. Built in the early 1960s as a street-facing townhouse with a double-story house at the rear, the home remained in the same family for over half a century.

Central to the brief was a desire to retain the floorplan and for any changes to be non-invasive. The genius of Bell and Clerehan’s original layout meant a simple set of steps could seamlessly connect the staggered townhouses.