The client brief for the Brighton St residence was to create a family home in the tight knit inner Melbourne suburb of Richmond. The challenges presented by this brief in relation to the small nature of the site included; creating a spatial program that satisfied the requirements of a family home; balancing privacy and aspect on an exposed corner block; creating a sense of openness in particular for ground level internal spaces and providing opportunities for outdoor amenity across multiple levels.
The design response drew on the existing brick boundary walls and extends them along both street frontages to envelope a series of ground level bedrooms. These rooms are orientated towards a secluded north facing internal courtyard which provides light and natural ventilation to these rooms. The private nature of this courtyard enables each room to utilize floor to ceiling windows are create a sense of light and openness. At first floor level window apertures to living areas were increased to enable outward views towards the surrounding streetscape. High window sills at this level restrict pedestrian views from street level balancing privacy and the ability for the owners to enjoy an outlook over the surrounds.
Small terraces and balconies were incorporated into this level providing the owners with an ability to extend living functions into outdoor spaces. At roof level a large outdoor terrace area was created to provide a substantial outdoor living space in place of the traditional backyard. A key component of this was the inclusion of a permanent pergola structure to create shelter from the elements particularly in the summer months. Each level is connected via a common stair which also acts as a light well for the ground floor entry and basement level. The open nature of the stair is balanced by a solid central wall to again restrict views from street level into the primary living spaces.
