Houzz Tours
Houzz Tour: High Street House Shows What's Possible in the 'Burbs
Sublurbia? Not here. With some clever design ideas, this suburban family home is anything but ordinary
The prominent silhouette of the upper storey of this house in Nunawading, Victoria, is designed as a reference to the quintessential ‘house’ and the typical shape that’s associated with it; but there’s nothing standard about this suburban property. With a considered composition, a sunny central courtyard and attention to the flow of spaces, this modern family home thinks outside the box in every way.
On the ground floor, the communal living spaces are contained towards the rear of the home. An open-plan kitchen, dining and living area overlooks the backyard, but also open onto a central courtyard. Off the central corridor is access to the grandparents’ master bedroom suite, laundry, a guest bedroom and bathroom, gym, a separate sitting area, plus access to the garage.
Upstairs are the two kids’ bedrooms, and a bathroom that flows onto a generous rumpus room. Tucked under the gable facing the street is the parents’ master bedroom, complete with an ensuite and walk-in robe. A balcony overlooking the front garden is the parents’ special retreat.
Upstairs are the two kids’ bedrooms, and a bathroom that flows onto a generous rumpus room. Tucked under the gable facing the street is the parents’ master bedroom, complete with an ensuite and walk-in robe. A balcony overlooking the front garden is the parents’ special retreat.
A sunny sitting area overlooking the front yard greets you immediately inside the entry. Bathed in natural light thanks to its northern orientation, the sitting area has a wraparound view of the front garden, making it a delightful spot to sit and read away from the hustle of the main living areas at the rear of the home.
Further up the main corridor there’s a direct connection from the garage into the house, where built-in storage provides a convenient place to stow jackets. This cloakroom has a built-in cabinet at seat height, which is a handy place for the family to put on or take off their shoes.
Several rooms lead off the central hallway. To the left, immediately after the cloakroom, is the staircase to the upper level. The balustrade is made from full-height timber battens, which let light in while acting as a screen to the adjacent room.
The semi-enclosed lounge area – which is soon to become a gym – is screened by these timber battens. With beautiful eastern light and access to the deck area, this space will become the perfect place to kick off the day with a few kilometres on the exercise bike or a leisurely sun salutation.
Next room back, and also opening onto the deck, is a guest bedroom. This room was originally designed as a study or hobby area, as seen in this image, but is now being used as a guest space when the family has people to stay.
Just one of four bathrooms (others not pictured), this downstairs guest bathroom features an urbane black and grey colour scheme softened by a blond timber vanity. A sculptural bathtub makes a grand statement.
Tiles: National Tiles
Tiles: National Tiles
Dramatic charcoal kitchen cabinetry gives the illusion of receding, helping the show-stopping island bench to pop. Made from a combination of timber and crisp white reconstituted stone, the island is another sculptural feature in the home. It’s easily big enough for all the family and friends to gather around, so cooking in this home is a truly communal activity. This is a nice gesture that helps to highlight a lifestyle that includes casual dining to be shared with family and friends.
American oak timber floor: Bunnings; ‘Pure White’ benchtop: Caesarstone
American oak timber floor: Bunnings; ‘Pure White’ benchtop: Caesarstone
The orientation of the site meant that the backyard would be overshadowed by the house itself. Alta Architecture was determined not to devalue the backyard as a site for epic cricket matches and casual barbecues, but they needed a strategy to get more light into the home and create an outdoor entertaining area that connected to the interior living areas. That’s where the courtyard comes in.
“Unlike many suburban houses that try to maximise [the] envelope to get more [space], we introduced a courtyard in the middle, so that the large living area at the back will be able to receive northern sunlight,” says Fred Fang, the lead designer of this project.
The central courtyard serves as a sheltered entertaining space and brings northern light directly into the open-plan living/dining area. This way, the bulk of the house actually protects the courtyard from the hot afternoon sun, making it perfect for entertaining, even on hot summer nights.
Single lock standing seam cladding system in ‘Night Sky’: Colorbond
“Unlike many suburban houses that try to maximise [the] envelope to get more [space], we introduced a courtyard in the middle, so that the large living area at the back will be able to receive northern sunlight,” says Fred Fang, the lead designer of this project.
The central courtyard serves as a sheltered entertaining space and brings northern light directly into the open-plan living/dining area. This way, the bulk of the house actually protects the courtyard from the hot afternoon sun, making it perfect for entertaining, even on hot summer nights.
Single lock standing seam cladding system in ‘Night Sky’: Colorbond
As well as a source of natural light, the courtyard is great for ventilation. By throwing open the large sliding doors on both sides of the living area the home can catch breezes, meaning the air-conditioner doesn’t get much of a workout. One thing that is clear from this living area is the effect of blurring the boundaries between inside and outside. Thanks to large glass sliding doors, the interior merges into the outdoors.
An example of blurring the boundaries between inside and outside is this internal planter, which continues outside to make the two spaces feel like one. The brick wall also continues inside, providing beautiful texture and a sense that the whole living area extends seamlessly outdoors. Fang explains the effect as, “similar to a bi-fold door that opens up a wall completely”, the indoor/outdoor planter “helps bring the outdoors inside, and vice versa, but at a much smaller and intimate scale”.
In addition to the courtyard, the backyard itself is a functional space with a covered verandah and a paved dining area. This south-facing deck makes a great place to sit on hot days; the bricks are protected from the sun all day long, keeping them cool. This makes it the perfect vantage point for that game of backyard cricket.
Upstairs are the more private zones. In addition to two children’s bedrooms and a rumpus space (not pictured), this level houses the master bedroom seen here. The master is tucked under the gable, helping it to feel nurtured and protected. The street-facing bedroom enjoys a dedicated timber-lined balcony for a quiet retreat from busy family life. A glass balustrade makes for an unimpeded view, and helps the bedroom feel like it’s floating in the treetops.
In many ways this home is a typical suburban dwelling. It’s on a standard-sized block, with both a front yard and a backyard, living areas downstairs and bedrooms upstairs – it even has the quintessential shape. But on closer inspection, it has taken a different approach to housing in the suburbs. Thanks to an appreciation of orientation and a considered approach to how a multi-generational family might live, this home’s unique take on suburban living is an example of what’s possible in our suburbs.
In many ways this home is a typical suburban dwelling. It’s on a standard-sized block, with both a front yard and a backyard, living areas downstairs and bedrooms upstairs – it even has the quintessential shape. But on closer inspection, it has taken a different approach to housing in the suburbs. Thanks to an appreciation of orientation and a considered approach to how a multi-generational family might live, this home’s unique take on suburban living is an example of what’s possible in our suburbs.
Who lives here: Two working professionals with their two young children
Location: Nunawading, Victoria
Year built: 2014
Size: 400 square metres, 5 bedrooms (2 downstairs, 3 upstairs), 4 Bathrooms (2 downstairs, 2 upstairs)
Architect: Alta Architecture
Builder: R.Z.Owens Constructions
You might recognise the silhouette of this house in Melbourne’s eastern suburbs from your pre-school paintings. From a young age, kids all over the world draw houses as a square with a triangle on top. With a strongly defined gable form, this house is inspired by that depiction of ‘home’. It was designed for a multi-generational family – a husband and wife and their two newborns, plus the husband’s parents. With the unique needs of a multi-generational home in mind, Alta Architecture created various zones for each family member to have their own space.