The design of a new family home in an established suburb is a rare opportunity. This (current) project in Elwood provides us with ample scope to apply our philosophy of creativity, collaboration and environmental consciousness. At the same time, our belief that form follows process lets us keep the project moving purposefully ahead while that philosophy is applied.

A particular challenge of this project is the need for the scale of the building to relate properly with its neighbours, including a low-rise block of apartments on one side. We also need to allow ample light into the building, especially to the lower levels.

This is a crafted structure, with materials carefully selected for their environmental friendliness in both supply and use, and their aesthetic appeal. The owners, keen to make an architectural statement, are closely involved with material selection as well as design.

This will be an interesting building – a building that invites you to discover – whilst also being practical and flexible for the families of its current and future owners.

tags: daylight, residential, sustainable

“One of the key pleasures about working with Antony is that he has a brilliant intuitive sense of balance and we could always rely on this. The elements would always be harmoniously arranged, initially on paper and then later, translated into reality. At various points now, as the build has officially finished, we have found ourselves wishing that Antony was standing behind our shoulder, providing his insight on how to arrange form in space” – a client’s perspective.

tags: extension, lighting, residential

Before our meditation platform project in Northcote is even complete it has already been featured in The Age. The article by Jenny Brown discusses the merits of long-term investment in quality space.

tags: media, refurbishment, residential, small

As kids are staying at home longer and longer many families are looking for ways in which members of different generations can live on the one block with a degree of self-sufficiency and privacy. This recent project gives an architecture student his own ‘pad’ in the back garden of his parents’ house – a place to relax, study or hang out with friends.

tags: refurbishment, residential, student

This recently completed refurbishment to an existing house in Brunswick has succeeded in making the spaces fresh and contemporary without major changes.

Check out the project page here

tags: refurbishment, residential, stairs, timber

This 2-storey extension is all about improving the connection between house and garden. By incorporating a courtyard between old and new we attempting to provide greater internal space without cutting areas off from the landscape.

tags: extension, garden, residential

The aim with this new house on a corner block in East Ivanhoe was to create a harmony between contemporary style and the post-war tradition that typifies much of Ivanhoe. The use of outdoor space and landscaping was very important – the articulation of timber details responds to the established vegetation, which was preserved through construction.

Good design is essential if the built environment is to become less reliant on limited resources. Sometimes achieving this requires extra creative energy and time, as in this instance. But challenging the imagination is, for us, the essence of architecture.

Small design choices can make a big difference. Care was taken here to design appropriate shading above exposed glass, remembering simple lessons learned in the design of Australian houses before the widespread availability of energy-intensive air conditioners.

In addition, we sought to minimise waste at every stage of the project: from initial design right through to the completion of construction. This is something we aim for in all our projects, whether a new house like this, a relatively small renovation or a much larger scale industrial project.

tags: garden, residential, tradition

While the trend towards open-plan living drives the designs of many contemporary renovations, there is an element of group-think in many architectural responses to this choice. At times, particularly in period homes, a wide open-plan extension can create an imbalance between the old and new.

It is in these situations that we believe the application of more creative energy is necessary. A more measured approach can produce the desired modern feel while maintaining that old-new balance.

In this classically narrow Melbourne terrace, the typical open-plan response would have betrayed the tight confines of the site. Instead, we embraced the separate spaces of the existing building, using colour to help define distinct but interconnected living areas. The long side facade was broken up with two glazed courtyards, flooding the home with light.

This is a crafted, individual design that effectively blends heritage with modern and, in so doing, instils a genuine sense of comfort, harmony and privacy to the home.

Read reviews of this project from House & Garden and Architectural Review

tags: daylight, residential, terrace

This warehouse refurbishment in Collingwood is an example of what we call creative re-use. More a case of rediscovering the old than of preserving it, our approach was to strip back layers of clutter built up over time, revealing the inherent beauty of the original structure.

The main spaces were preserved; a restrained palette of materials and finishes was applied to create a comfortable and light-filled interior. Use of modern materials to insulate and seal gaps brought the building in line with contemporary environmental standards.

This project exemplifies our preference to design more, consume less by making best use of what is already in place and limiting the extent of new building works. More measured change can often help an older home better meet the needs of today’s family in a way that is sustainable, economically restrained and respectful of history.

Check out the Peter Sackett’s review in Houses

tags: creative re-use, residential, sustainable

In much of our residential work, the primary challenge is to meet the needs of a contemporary lifestyle while maintaining the integrity of heritage values. This applies as much to the interior of a property as it does to the exterior.

Generally, as in this project in Brunswick, our approach is to re-imagine space, avoiding major structural changes as much as possible. Rather than treat the old building as an empty shell, we used the existing infrastructure as a starting point. From there, we made the changes necessary to bring both spaces and services up to modern standards, while maintaining the core of the original home.

This approach not only reduced waste, but it will also provide future generations with the opportunity to benefit from the intentions of the home’s original designers. It fits very well with our philosophy of both community and environmental consciousness.

tags: residential, sustainable, tradition

This project exemplifies the Di Mase approach and philosophy in many ways. Our clients wanted to extend their small inner-suburban home via the addition of a parents’ retreat. They were keen to do so with sensitivity to both their own environment and that of their neighbours, and they wanted to maximise the relationship between the house and the outdoor areas. They also wanted to be involved collaboratively in the design process.

After experimenting with various arrangements, we created new internal and external spaces which relate to each other in interesting ways. The courtyard becomes the heart of activity, surrounded on three sides by the existing house and the extension. Daylight and views closely connect the new living area to the garden and courtyard. Placement of the extension to the north avoids overshadowing of the neighbours.

The approach avoided the typical addition of a large open-plan space, creatively providing a more flexible layout in which the family of four are able to live in harmony in their small dwelling. Each individual has their own space and aspect to the outside, while the family are able to gather together in the various communal spaces.

tags: family, residential, small

For this inner-city family home we are exploring ways to deny scale on the street frontage. The simple and apparently arbitrary facade deliberately lacks a reference point, communicating much less than a traditional house.

Check out the project page here

tags: new house, residential, sustainable

It’s amazing what simple fixed louvres can achieve when carefully placed. These visualisations show the sun penetration into a client’s living area at summer and winter solstices and the spring equinox – note the full shade in summer and loads of light (and heat!) in winter.

tags: passive design, residential, sustainable

This project involved a major refurbishment of an existing dwelling in St Kilda. All of the main spaces were retained and the rooms were enriched by the use of joinery and colour.

Simple features such as a chalkboard wall behind the spiral staircase help make the space more exciting and engaging.

tags: colour, refurbishment, residential, stairs

WThe aim with this house on a corner block in East Ivanhoe was to create a harmony between contemporary style and the post-war tradition that typifies much of Ivanhoe. The use of outdoor space and landscaping was very important – the articulation of timber details responds to the established vegetation, which was preserved through construction.

Click to read Kerrie O’Brien’s review in The Age or check out the project page here

tags: garden, media, new house, residential, tradition

“An inner-city warehouse in Melbourne, Australia, has been transformed within into a modest but impressive residence where light, space, and function are the core of its striking design. As well as meeting the client’s demand for contemporary and comfortable living.

Old charm and contemporary design sensitively unite in an outstanding sustainable refurbishment.”

Read the rest of Catherine Oelrichs’ review of our Collingwood Warehouse project here or check out Peter Sackett’s review in Houses

tags: adaptive reuse, media, re-use, residential, timber

This project refurbished the interior of an existing lean to to the rear of an existing double fronted timber dwelling in Fitzroy. The project was organised and built by the owner who worked closely with the carpenters and joiners on this project. The project demonstrates that it is not always necessary to remove the rear section to create a functional and well designed space. By working within the existing shell and carefully considering the detail design of each space the overall house can be made to feel spacious and light. Each of the main spaces use mainly pendant lights designed by Louis Poulsen to create a warmth to each space.

tags: kitchen, lighting, refurbishment, residential

This project was part of an initiative by VICURBAN to promote the use of architects in the volume housing market of Melbourne. The project is designed to create a family home that can be built affordably.

Check out the project page here

tags: affordable, environmental, residential, sustainable

In re-organising the main internal layout of this three-storey apartment, we took great care to consider the overall quality, functionality and comfort of each space. Bold colours were used in the stairwell – a playful space that energises the apartment and takes on different characters during the day due to the changing light from above.

Read Lucinda Strahan’s review in The Age here

tags: apartment, media, refurbishment, residential

This project is a new house for a family with 5 young children and large home office. The project is unusual in that the client is also the builder who has built much of our work over the past 5 years. The site is a large block in a semi-rural location with beautiful views to the bay and city beyond. The site is sloping and the northern aspect is to the front of the block towards the street. The view, orientation and the sloping site meant that the design approach inverted the traditional sequence of spaces of front door, house and backyard.

Check out the review in Home

tags: family, media, new house, residential, space

This project was a refurbishment to an existing Federation style house in St Kilda. The aim was to provide additional accommodation for a 3rd child as well create a new bathroom, ensuite, kitchen, laundry + car parking facilities. The project reinstated the character of the original house that had been substantially altered when the house was being used as a boarding house . The situation was made more difficult by developers who sub-divided the rear section of the property to build apartments about 10 years ago. The design approach installed modern elements into the existing rooms and spaces. These elements complimented the look + feel of the original house to give the entire dwelling a new lease of life.

Check out the review in Home Beautiful

tags: colour, federation, media, refurbishment, residential

This renovation to an existing worker’s cottage in North Fitzroy was one of the first commissions to be completed by the office. There were many challenging features to this site – for instance the site was very long + very thin (42mlong x 4.5mwide), the site is flanked by a laneway, and roughly in the centre of the site there was a boundary trap that we could not build over. Two courtyards created distinct breaks in the long laneway facade. They separate old from new as well as allow light and views to the interior of the house. The interior focus was on the careful connection of the new spaces to the existing. The dining room, living room and bedroom were treated as distinct rooms (rather than open plan) and are of similar proportions to the existing rooms of the cottage.

Check out the reviews from House & Garden and Architectural Review or see the project page here

tags: extension, media, residential, terrace

This project was a renovation to an existing worker’s cottage. The client has lived at this location for about 20 years and has developed a strong sense of community and connection to the local area. For this reason the client had decided to renovate this tiny cottage rather than sell and move away from the area she had grown to love.

The site was very small – only 4.1m wide x 24m – or about 90 square metres and the condition of the original dwelling required considerable work. Due to the proximity of neighbours + the various local council issues, such as heritage and rescode standards, we needed to consult widely to gain support for the project. Contrary to many experiences with town planning the neighbours supported this project.

Click to read the review in Houses Magazine

tags: extension, media, residential, small, stairs

The relationship of the house to the garden and context was changed by extending the dwelling to the side boundaries at the main bedroom and living room. The interior of the living room was opened up to become a large room that received light from three sides. New spaces and views were created with specific consideration given to the connection of interior and exterior spaces. Landscaping, external paving, flooring materials and rendered walls help to strengthen this connection.

tags: extension, fireplace, kitchen, residential

The client, an architectural historian, was keen to adopt simple and adaptable practical solutions that could accommodate future generations, while meeting the current needs of a three-child family. A family dining table is the centrepiece of the large, open kitchen. Provision was made for the future installation of a water tank, existing terracotta tiles were reused and bricks were cleaned for later re-use in landscape works by the owner.

tags: extension, residential, timber