Polygreen pops up in a car park
Down a narrow laneway in Melbourne’s inner-north, this vibrant green warehouse-like home by Michael Bellemo and Cat Macleod, co-directors of Bellemo & Cat Architects, popped up on top of a car park. The husband and wife team had been looking at land all over Melbourne to build a family home for themselves. “When we saw this sad, old car park with a huge drainage easement along one edge, we knew no-one else would see its potential as a spacious, north-facing home. And because no-one saw its potential, we bought it for a great price!” says Macleod.
Australian homes embracing street art
Down a narrow laneway in Melbourne’s inner-north, this vibrant green warehouse-like home by Michael Bellemo and Cat Macleod, co-directors of Bellemo & Cat Architects, popped up on top of a car park. The husband and wife team had been looking at land all over Melbourne to build a family home for themselves. “When we saw this sad, old car park with a huge drainage easement along one edge, we knew no-one else would see its potential as a spacious, north-facing home. And because no-one saw its potential, we bought it for a great price!” says Macleod.
Australian homes embracing street art
The home is clad in durable translucent fibreglass – the type you find on shed roofs – with a custom pattern printed on the underside. “In the early stages of designing, one of our neighbours said, ‘There’s no greenery in this street, please just give us some greenery’,” Macleod recalls. So that’s exactly what they did, both inside and out. Considering the home is surrounded by old red-brick warehouses, the green creates a striking contrast.
Once inside, the narrow dimensions of the one-time car park are easily forgotten. A split-level design offers generous ceiling heights in the main living space and captures sunlight and views from the north. Industrial-chic materials like plywood, anodised aluminium and fibreglass sheeting continue the modern warehouse theme, while contrasting with the zesty green walls and joinery. What was once a nondescript parking area has been transformed into a piece of refreshing public art for the local community and a comfortable family home for five.
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Towering ‘Small House’ takes over parking garage
Another car park transformation, only this time in inner Sydney. Small House by Domenic Alvaro of Woods Bagot Architects is a towering five-level home that sure is a grand design. It fits 200 square meters of living onto a tiny 6 by 7 metre parcel of land. Each level consists of another zone of living: garage and storage on the ground floors, bedroom plus ensuite bathroom on the first floor, lounge on the second floor, kitchen and dining on the third floor, culminating in a study and rooftop garden on the top floor.
Another car park transformation, only this time in inner Sydney. Small House by Domenic Alvaro of Woods Bagot Architects is a towering five-level home that sure is a grand design. It fits 200 square meters of living onto a tiny 6 by 7 metre parcel of land. Each level consists of another zone of living: garage and storage on the ground floors, bedroom plus ensuite bathroom on the first floor, lounge on the second floor, kitchen and dining on the third floor, culminating in a study and rooftop garden on the top floor.
From the rooftop garden, you can enjoy a slice of greenery in the dense inner-city area and take in panoramic views towards the Sydney CBD. Luxe fixtures and fittings throughout the home help it to defy its pint-sized dimensions and are inspired by the architect’s work on upscale commercial projects. Small House was recently listed for sale with a $1.875 million price-tag. To say this site has come a long way from neglected parking garage to luxurious inner-city pad would be an understatement.
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A former cowshed becomes a modern house
When Carterwilliamson Architects were approached by their clients to transform a former Cowshed into a home, they were a little shocked. However, even in inner-city areas like Sydney’s Glebe there remains a range of buildings that served another era and are now ripe for transformation. “The old cowshed in Glebe provided a rare opportunity to preserve some of the character and charm of this eclectic neighbourhood,” says Shaun Carter, principal architect at Carterwilliamson.
The Cowshed House demonstrates how working with existing structures with their layered patinas of history can be a fantastic contribution to the city – as well as a stunning place to call home.
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When Carterwilliamson Architects were approached by their clients to transform a former Cowshed into a home, they were a little shocked. However, even in inner-city areas like Sydney’s Glebe there remains a range of buildings that served another era and are now ripe for transformation. “The old cowshed in Glebe provided a rare opportunity to preserve some of the character and charm of this eclectic neighbourhood,” says Shaun Carter, principal architect at Carterwilliamson.
The Cowshed House demonstrates how working with existing structures with their layered patinas of history can be a fantastic contribution to the city – as well as a stunning place to call home.
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Inside the Cowshed, the rustic finish of the bricks is maintained and complemented by exposed timber beams.
The architects preserved the fabric of the original cowshed where possible, though much of the building was structurally unsound. The firm writes of the project: “What was rebuilt carries the spirit of the cowshed, composed from a palette of simple, robust materials; concrete slabs polished as flooring, recycled bricks left as face for the internal walls and the timber structure exposed. Oiled timber doors and windows and corrugated cladding hint at the Australian pastural vernacular now all but forgotten in this rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood.”
Spaces within the Cowshed are truly open plan, each room connects visually to the next and all spaces open onto the sunny north-facing courtyard – helping the 5 by 15 metre space to defy its constrained dimensions.
The architects preserved the fabric of the original cowshed where possible, though much of the building was structurally unsound. The firm writes of the project: “What was rebuilt carries the spirit of the cowshed, composed from a palette of simple, robust materials; concrete slabs polished as flooring, recycled bricks left as face for the internal walls and the timber structure exposed. Oiled timber doors and windows and corrugated cladding hint at the Australian pastural vernacular now all but forgotten in this rapidly gentrifying neighbourhood.”
Spaces within the Cowshed are truly open plan, each room connects visually to the next and all spaces open onto the sunny north-facing courtyard – helping the 5 by 15 metre space to defy its constrained dimensions.
Herston Gardenhouse pops up at the Bottom of the Garden
What’s hiding at the bottom of the garden? Well, in Brisbane the answer is Herston Gardenhouse, a spacious and light-filled home designed by Refresh* Design. How many Australian backyards do you think are languishing and overgrown and could be better utilised? Heston Gardenhouse is a concept for how you can create a second income stream, house a multi-generational family or capitalise by subdividing your disused backyard.
“We love the Gardenhouse project and concept and we are actually doing quite a few of such projects,” says Monika Obrist, co-founder of Refresh* Design. “The same client has engaged us for another gardenhouse in Woolloongabba with construction starting in two weeks! For him, the concept obviously works really well.”
What’s hiding at the bottom of the garden? Well, in Brisbane the answer is Herston Gardenhouse, a spacious and light-filled home designed by Refresh* Design. How many Australian backyards do you think are languishing and overgrown and could be better utilised? Heston Gardenhouse is a concept for how you can create a second income stream, house a multi-generational family or capitalise by subdividing your disused backyard.
“We love the Gardenhouse project and concept and we are actually doing quite a few of such projects,” says Monika Obrist, co-founder of Refresh* Design. “The same client has engaged us for another gardenhouse in Woolloongabba with construction starting in two weeks! For him, the concept obviously works really well.”
The Gardenhouse is flipped upside down, placing the living areas upstairs in order to give them more access to light, breezes and views. Narrow windows to the sides and rear ensure that neighbouring properties aren’t overlooked, while large floor-to-ceiling glass facing the access lane lets in an incredible amount of light.
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North Perth house completes a small, subdivided site
As our cities become more dense, Australians are sitting on a secret weapon. Most of our inner-city areas have large backyards and rear lane access. This makes them perfect candidates for subdivision, as this North Perth House by Jonathan Lake Architects demonstrates. “Finding smaller parcels of land to build on, like this subdivided backyard, provides a great number of opportunities for the design, the environment and the occupants,” says Jonathan Lake.
Lake made the most of this tight site by prioritising “the spaces for people over the spaces for cars”. The architect provides no lock up garage, instead leaving a small strip parking area off the rear lane. The compact, two-level home is essentially a timber box perched on a solid recycled concrete base. But these leftover spaces are not easy to build on, and that’s where the experience and skills of an architect become an asset. “The site for the North Perth House had been bought and sold three times before we got involved,” says Lake. “Every previous time the owners, using ordinary builders, had not been able to create a design that worked. Smaller sites and more challenging sites are perfect for architects because we have the ability to make them work and can create something beautiful out of them.”
As our cities become more dense, Australians are sitting on a secret weapon. Most of our inner-city areas have large backyards and rear lane access. This makes them perfect candidates for subdivision, as this North Perth House by Jonathan Lake Architects demonstrates. “Finding smaller parcels of land to build on, like this subdivided backyard, provides a great number of opportunities for the design, the environment and the occupants,” says Jonathan Lake.
Lake made the most of this tight site by prioritising “the spaces for people over the spaces for cars”. The architect provides no lock up garage, instead leaving a small strip parking area off the rear lane. The compact, two-level home is essentially a timber box perched on a solid recycled concrete base. But these leftover spaces are not easy to build on, and that’s where the experience and skills of an architect become an asset. “The site for the North Perth House had been bought and sold three times before we got involved,” says Lake. “Every previous time the owners, using ordinary builders, had not been able to create a design that worked. Smaller sites and more challenging sites are perfect for architects because we have the ability to make them work and can create something beautiful out of them.”
Inside, the living spaces are defined by the strong concrete wall. Materials are minimised and kept simple to keep the home within its tight budget. The beauty of using recycled concrete is it can remain unfinished, while the timber expresses its natural texture and beauty with a simple clear finish. The North Perth House demonstrates what’s possible on small, subdivided sites, even on a tight budget.
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MORE
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Oklahoma City! up-and-coming with Downtown, Midtown, Uptown -- being re-invented into desirable urban residential neighborhoods - various styles - including modern.