Andrew Burges Architects

South Yarra Void House

South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt

SOUTH YARRA VOID HOUSE

Andrew Child Architect

ENGINEERING
Stantin Consulting

CLIENTS
David Hayes

PHOTOGRAPHS
Tatjana Plitt

AREA
250 m²

DESIGN TEAM
Andrew Child

MANUFACTURERS
Graphisoft, Masson For Light, Miele, Aneeta Windows, Astra Walker, Dining Light, Morpholio Trace

CATEGORY
House

LOCATION
Melbourne, Australia

YEAR
2019

Text description provided by architect.

On a restrained budget, we were able to transform a tired and awkward student rental house into a home for the owners and their adult children.

South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt

We did this by underpinning a thorough refurbishment with some strategic alterations and a tiny side extension.The existing house was in two parts: an elegant double fronted single storey nineteenth-century Victorian house to the front, and a serviceable, but uninspiring 1970’s double storey addition to the rear.

A key move was to remove an upper level bedroom from the existing rear addition to create a double-height dining space below. This new focal point for the home has created drama amongst the relatively modest ceiling heights of the old addition and also opened the living areas to the sky and the trees of the rear yard and surrounding properties.

South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt

It also unearthed a beautiful workspace area above the kitchen, which now overlooks the dining space and greenery of the rear yard and surrounding properties.

New contrasting black windows and other black metal elements were inserted into and around the solid brick building fabric of the existing rear addition to enliven the spaces. Natural timber was used throughout the interior on the floors and joinery as a warm and unifying material.

South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt

Items interacted with more closely, such as the brass tapware, elegant bathroom fittings, and marble kitchen benchtop were selected to provide moments of delight throughout.

As with the building as much of the existing was retained as possible when considering the new landscaping throughout the property.


South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
South Yarra Void House
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt
South Yarra Void House
© Tatjana Plitt


South Yarra Void House
Existing ground floor plan
South Yarra Void House
Ground floor plan
South Yarra Void House
Existing first floor plan
South Yarra Void House
First floor plan


South Yarra Void House
Existing axo
South Yarra Void House
Proposed axo

Andrew Burges Architects
T +61 2 93317433 F +61 2 93317488
Andrew Burges Architects
32/61 Marlborough St, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Australia