The Hello House is a renovation and extension of a Victorian shophouse to accommodate a family home + artist's studio. The modest but beautiful front rooms were refreshed and its dysfunctional old back rooms demolished + replaced with new spaces more suitable for 21st century life.

Although limited in area, the comfort + generosity of the new addition is maximised by making every inch of the site’s available space visible from the main living area but protected from the busy street.

The Hello wall, designed in collaboration with artist Rose Nolan, is big but it's not dumb. The wall protects the house interiors while offering to start a conversation with passersby and its toothy brickwork contributes a new chapter to the brick + blockwork story of its 19th century heritage neighbours and their more recent descendants.

Rather than blending in or blanding out, Hello House is a slightly loud but friendly new face in the street.

Photography: OOF! architecture

DESIGN TEAM

Architect:  Fooi-Ling Khoo
Planning + Heritage:  David Brand
Collaborating Artist:  Rose Nolan
Engineer:  A M Daly Structural & Civil Engineers
Building Surveyor:  Anthony Middling & Associates

CONSTRUCTION TEAM

Builder:  Anthony Adams | CBI Complete Builder's Insight
Bricklayer:  Rob Fuchshofer | R&K Fuchshofer
Joiner:  John Matkowsky | M & J Cabinets and Joinery
Electrician | Linked Electrical Services
Painter | All Shades Painting
Concrete Floor Polishing | JV concrete