Clifton Hill Courtyard House

An unconventional approach to the floorplan of a 19th century weatherboard in Clifton Hill expands the ways of living and centres light and space at the heart of the home.

To ensure it lived on into the future, this 1890s reconfigured weatherboard cottage was going to need some bold interventions. Accommodating a growing family plus regular houseguests while improving access to natural light and contending with many of the usual constraints of an inner-city property required some creative thinking.

Flipping convention and positioning a multi-functional courtyard into the centre of the home allowed us to exceed the brief – separating the remodelled ‘private spaces’ like the master suite, ensuite and bedrooms from the new living areas. The courtyard creates an outdoor room, provides a natural backdrop to the living room and draws northern sunlight into the home despite its long and narrow south facing allotment.

Our clients embraced the concept, sacrificing some back ‘yard’ space in favour of opening up the home, increasing natural light and creating visual relief at the end of the original house’s narrow hallway. Orienting the kitchen towards the courtyard and its seasonal plantings ensured that the adjacent living area could occupy the full width of the home while allowing for passive family supervision.

Defined by the abundant light, robust and earthy materiality, crisp detailing and practical joinery, the brick and glass extension area connects with the rear garden and its beloved bottle brush tree via full-height steel-framed industrial doors.

To add further flexibility to the home as well as shielding surrounding buildings, we added a garden studio to act as a teenage retreat and guest quarters. The studio’s living façade also provides a green backdrop to enhance the calm spaces within the home.