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The Courtyard House encompasses both a new build and a conversion to the modest St Saviour’s Church in inner-city Collingwood. With its dense composite of residential conversions and developments within mixed-use industria, this context provided an architectural opportunity to rethink the family home while incorporating a former place of worship.

The owner-architect’s brief was to create a private sanctuary for a family of five within this urban hub. Implicit in this was the versatile utilisation of the church space.

As a primary response, the approach was to maximise the site footprint and northern orientation to create a seamless integration of old and new, interior and landscape.

High perimeter walls create an immediate sense of enclosure and proportionate scale to the church and nearby buildings. Where a curved plane of concrete in this facade peels away along the street front, a concealed entry opens into a vast outdoor courtyard, dominated by a 17-metre lap pool and concrete canopy above.

The church rises to the right, while at ground level it is sensitively connected to the new construct via a glass link. This is a pivotal point; more than a physical connection, it is a symbolic link between old and new, a subtle transition into the former place of worship.

Similarly connecting the old and new, the circular courtyard is the site’s focus. Raised to the ground plane of the built elements at upper-street level, its form is a nod to Ground’s Hill St house. In the courtyard’s creation, the standard house cube has been cut away and, where it thins to a horizontal plane, the resultant canopy creates a sharp linear contrast to the rounded forms.

Orientated to this courtyard, the home’s living areas on both levels are flooded with northern light, which generates a play of light and shade within and blurs the boundaries between inside and out. The upper level is set back and overlooks the courtyard and a roof garden. The clarity of detail and pared-back finishes throughout create a clean Modernist aesthetic that elicits a sense of calm, in contrast to the bustle of the urban surrounds.

Extensive use of concrete in this new addition both complements and contrasts the existing church fabric, while original windows and bluestone footings have been reintegrated into the new building and landscape in considered ways.

The church itself has been stripped back to its core structural elements. By demolishing the apse and bricked archways, and inserting glazing instead, its formerly dark interior is flooded with light and celebrates the building’s historic beauty and volume.

Sustainable principles have been adopted throughout: skylights and internal windows allow natural light into internal spaces, reducing the need for artificial light; heat gain is controlled through canopies, double glazing and blinds; the courtyard allows continuous cross ventilation; and, the thermal mass of exposed ground slab, coupled with appropriate insulation, helps to regulate the internal environment in all seasons. The rooftop garden provides insulation, softening the exterior aspect and attracts wildlife in this urban location.

Photography by Peter Bennetts.

The Courtyard House
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Professionals used in
The Courtyard House

About the
Professional

We are a boutique design-focused architecture practice based in Melbourne. 

Engaged in projects large and small, our studio specialises in high-quality residential architecture and interiors.  

We design spaces that are beautiful in their own right, whilst providing a blank canvas for clients to live their dream. We use materials that are appropriate for the site and that will age well. We believe buildings should be energy efficient and space efficient. Each of our projects is unique to the particular client and site. We listen and respond to, the client’s brief, the site’s typography, memory and context. “Same, same” is not in our lexicon. We seek out new materials and use everyday materials in new and unexpected/innovative ways and always strive for world best practices. We consider the whole project, integrating architecture, interiors and landscape for a seamless environment.   

We are known for our subtle detailing, lighting and volumes that create unexpected moments, spaciousness and intimacy. We have extensive experience in dealing with tricky sites, local councils and heritage issues, which we believe is pivotal in order to facilitate the path from concept design through to building and completion. We make sure that we are on-site collaborating with the owner and builder to ensure that the design intent is carried out throughout the process.

Our designs are driven by Biophilic principles, an approach that seeks to connect building occupants more closely with nature and the environment. We are passionate about creating enriched environments that feed and nourish our health and promote well-being through space and architecture.    

Architecture is not just about a sketch on a table napkin: it’s an exciting process that starts with an initial concept and evolves into functional and beautiful buildings. We create spaces that surprise and delight with the constant changes of seasons and light. We believe construction is a handmade art. Architecture’s wonder is in paring back the design so that it not only is an object of beauty but becomes a vessel for its intended function.