PHOOEY Architects Pty Ltd.

Cubo House

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

Cubo House 

Phooey Architects

BUILDER
Conterno Group

STRUCTURAL ENGINEER
Perrett Simpson P/l 

PHOTOGRAPHS
Peter Bennetts Photographer

AREA
410 m²

YEAR
2013

LOCATION
Melbourne, Australia

CATEGORY
Houses, Renovation

Text description provided by architect.

PHOOEY Architects transformed an existing double storey Victorian-era heritage-listed attached terrace house in Melbourne into a bespoke & sustainable home for a young family.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

Originally, the house was entered via a dark, stuffy corridor located under a staircase.

In its place, a new welcoming entry foyer now opens into a sunlight drenched multi-level void with natural ventilation.

Centrally located in the re-planned house, a feature stair climbs & descends between three levels.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

Landings are large enough to work, play or just hang out on.

Material pieces salvaged from the demolition were stored on site for upcycling.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

From the original staircase, existing steps & balustrades became a chandelier suspended in the void. Existing windows became a feature wall & lightwell.

Leftover stair balustrades screened a kid's loft bed & became joinery handles in the kitchen.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

Metal security doors became external privacy & sun shading devices. Slate roof tiles became window sills & feature elements in the external facade.

The existing rear & dysfunctional portions of the house were replaced by habitable environments opening onto the rear garden.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

Embodied memory & energy lost from the demolished red brick rear facade was fragmented onto the new building envelope.

Demolition drawings of the existing rear portion of the house were cut up into equal squares & re-arranged in a surrealist cubomania manner.

Tinkering together with the owner produced a resolved floor & facade layout.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

The language of the house additions extends into a small child friendly garden filled with productive pockets.

Photovoltaic cells, solar hot water & water collection tanks are hidden from view.

Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer

Whereas on display are the upcycled memories from the old house, contextualised by efficient planning & infused with natural air & sunlight.


Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer
Cubo House
© Peter Bennetts Photographer


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PHOOEY Architects Pty Ltd.
T +61 3 91164021
PHOOEY Architects Pty Ltd.
5 Circle Pl, Fitzroy North VIC 3068, Australia