High Street is a minimalist home located in Melbourne, Australia, designed by Lineburg Wang. By consolidating room types and programming circulation to eliminate wasted space, the architects introduced a split-level layout. Strategic wall placements and adjusted sightlines minimize views of nearby properties, instead framing longer vistas of borrowed landscapes to create a sense of expansiveness. To work within a constrained budget, the existing cottage was moved forward, freeing up space at the back for a new multipurpose “special room.” Eschewing conventional walls and built-in cabinetry, this room allows flexibility in use and layout, a concept borrowed from commercial architecture where centralized amenities and services liberate surrounding areas.
Here, a vertical core houses utilities, stacking laundry, kitchen storage, air conditioning, and even a DJ booth, maximizing function within a compact area. The special room itself is open and adaptable, designed for a variety of activities—cooking, dining, lounging, or entertaining. Half of this area extends outdoors, merging internal and external spaces with a consistent brick materiality. Though not in a flood zone, the house sits beside a flow path, necessitating durable construction materials that resist moisture and raise the extension above potential water impact.
With doors open, the interior and exterior blend into a single, spacious volume, enhancing the sense of openness on this tight suburban plot. Courtyard walls provide privacy while offering selective views of a neighboring green belt, capturing glimpses of pitched roofs, chimneys, and antennas that echo the local architectural character. In contrast, the original cottage retains its historic charm, preserving the proportion and detailing of its private rooms, with careful restoration of posts and decorative trims. The project also carefully negotiates local planning regulations, especially around inner-city setbacks, aiming to create a home that’s not only adaptable but resilient to shifts in design trends.
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