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

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

This is a proposal we developed for a long terrace house in North Fitzroy. The brief included renovations to the rear of the existing terrace, including a new family and kitchen area with main bedroom upstairs, as well as a new home studio at the rear. The aim was to create new spaces that related well to the existing building without reproduction. Considerable care was taken to be sympathetic to neighbours’ amenity, with particular attention paid to the roof shape of the new home studio.

tags: extension, small, urban

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 building takes its lead from the original amenities building – a corrugated metal building with a curved roof and louvre windows that was built by the local council. The pavilion extends the curved roof towards the bocce rinks and beyond the line of the building, becoming a covered area (or ‘la verandah’) to view the game. Beneath the curved roof is the main space of the pavilion – with a curved ceiling painted sky blue and generous proportions, this light-filled space is the ‘room’ the club members had dreamed of.

The bocce pavilion is a small public community room. Domestic in scale, it resembles a large living room in a house. It is an uncomplicated space and whilst the room is principally for the bocce club it has been used for many activities, including lessons in sitar playing, photography exhibitions and family gatherings. It provides an interesting model that could be easily applied to many situations and locations – it is a low cost building that does not seek to prescribe a particular use. In doing so it fulfils a multitude of needs in the community that could not be imagined at the start of a simple project.

tags: affordable, community, media, recreation, small