Periscope House draws light into a young family’s home, adding thoughtful solutions and flexible spaces to 1950s Art Deco foundations. Our clients engaged us to undertake a considered extension to their character-rich home in Malvern East. They wanted to celebrate their home’s history while adapting it to the needs of their family, and future-proofing it for decades to come. The extension’s form meets with and continues the existing roofline, politely emerging at the rear of the house. The tones of the original white render and red brick are reflected in the extension, informing its white Colorbond exterior and selective pops of red throughout. Inside, the original home’s layout has been reimagined to better suit a growing family. Once closed-in formal dining and lounge rooms were converted into children’s bedrooms, supplementing the main bedroom and a versatile fourth room. Grouping these rooms together has created a subtle definition of zones: private spaces are nestled to the front, while the rear extension opens up to shared living areas. A tailored response to the site, the extension’s ground floor addresses the western back garden, and first floor (AKA the periscope) faces the northern sun. Sitting above the open plan living areas, the periscope is a mezzanine that nimbly sidesteps the harsh afternoon light synonymous with a western facing back yard. It features a solid wall to the west and a glass wall to the north, emulating the rotation of a periscope to draw gentle light into the extension. Beneath the mezzanine, the kitchen, dining, living and outdoor spaces effortlessly overlap. Also accessible via an informal back door for friends and family, this generous communal area provides our clients with the functionality, spatial cohesion and connection to the outdoors they were missing. Melding modern and heritage elements, Periscope House honours the history of our clients’ home while creating light-filled shared spaces – all through a periscopic lens that opens the home to the garden.

Reclaimed Brick Modern French Country

Wyrick Residential Design

This new family room with wood vaulted ceiling and wood look floating hearth pops with tiger print mod wallpaper in black and gold offsetting the black brick of the fireplace and sliding doors

Classic Farmhouse with a Flair

Silver Leaf Construction & Renovation

DIAMOND RIM

Attractive Interiors Home Staging

large open family room adjacent to kitchen,

Linda Fritschy Interior Design

Zen Den (Family Room)

Emerald Fields

Benjamin Marcus Homes

Natural Textures and Colorful Accents

Denver Design Group

Family Room

L. Lumpkins Architect, Inc.

Family room with french doors to patio

North Tustin - Addition and Remodel

Pacific Coast Builders, Inc.

This living space is part of a Great Room that connects to the kitchen. Beautiful white brick cladding around the fireplace and chimney. White oak features including: fireplace mantel, floating shelves, and solid wood floor. The custom cabinetry on either side of the fireplace has glass display doors and Cambria Quartz countertops. The firebox is clad with stone in herringbone pattern. Photo by Molly Rose Photography