Big Small House.

"I never dreamed I would live in an house like this."

Bryan Matthews, Client, Big Small House

The existing City of Port Phillip contributory graded heritage gabled cottage was completely restored. The entry hall opens up to create a surprising vertical space with a glimpse of a ‘bridge’ upstairs. Remodelled original spaces now provide a main bedroom with ensuite and walk in robe, and a guest suite.

Sitting behind the cottage, is a contemporary addition within a two-storey asymmetrical gable form. Rotated 90 degrees from the original, the new form respectfully tucks behind it. A glorious volume of space is revealed upon entering the addition with soaring ceilings over the kitchen and dining spaces. Artwork in this space has been curated by Melissa Bianca Amore, including works by Janet Laurence and Robert Owen.

A hidden door leads to the basement, a large space that extends to the full footprint of the addition. A darker material palette colours the cellar with open wine room, a cinema, powder room and storage. Natural light penetrates the study with a floor window to above.

The girls zone upstairs includes two bedrooms, a bathroom and a gallery with views to the city and connection to the family areas below. A calming bath space and an acoustic felt-lined quiet retreat are tucked into the original roof space.

Playful elements throughout the house reflect our clients’ personalities such as coloured tiles to the bathrooms, a burnt orange velvet curtain at the cinema, a bright yellow front door and blue shag pile carpet and lining of the girls’ retreat.

Passive and active design are essential to the success of the Big Small House. North-facing windows flood the kitchen and dining area with natural light and facilitate abundant natural ventilation. The shade over these windows activates to protect from the summer sun while harnessing winter sun angles to invite warming light deep into the home. The insulated concrete slab provides thermal mass to stabilise temperatures inside. All double glazing is high-performance thermally-broken aluminium. The home is packed with insulation, and is meticulously sealed. A solar array covering the entire new roof and battery storage power the home.

The home achieves a 7.1 NatHERS star rating from an original rating of less than 1