A typical 1960s house in Rosanna that was way too small and poky for a family where the kitchen was tiny, laundry almost non-existent and bathrooms built for midgets. This was the main challenge for Nest Architects, a young, vibrant and innovative architectural practice based in Melbourne, Australia. 

The client approached them with the brief to keep as much of the existing house and it’s redeeming features as possible, but design a layout that would allow for a growing family. They didn’t want a big house and they certainly wanted to preserve the look, feel and features of the existing house without it becoming a simple homage to mid-century architecture and interior design.

Two bedrooms were located upstairs in a new black metal clad form with undulating aluminium screens on the external façade. Downstairs was re-planned to allow for a central core featuring a kitchen, laundry, and staircase and storage room. Around the perimeter of the central core are a living, dining and study area, a main bedroom and two generous bathrooms.

The last element on the perimeter of the core is a multi purpose room, which could be a rumpus, a guest bedroom or a second living room. Sliding doors on either side of this room allow it to become a private space or an open space to the rest of the house. It’s proximity to the second bathroom means that it can act a guest room or a semi-permanent bedroom for visiting parents or returning children.