When an architect designs a home for his family, you can expect meticulous planning with all potential options given full consideration. Such is the case with Osborne St, Williamstown. The aim was to create a residence that could adapt to the changing dynamics of a growing family and a place that feels comfortable and lived in from day one.

At just 360m2, the site is quite small. But as the home is ideally located directly opposite Williamstown’s Botanical Gardens with its expansive green open space, this allowed for a more compact urban courtyard and outdoor entertaining area.

A further challenge is that the house is part of a streetscape of vintage dwellings and is therefore subject to a heritage listing. The essential design challenge therefore revolved around the restoration of the established early-1900’s house with the sensitive addition of a new 3-level structure that accommodates the family’s existing and potential needs.

This included the integration of a basement theatre and games room, a studio loft over the garage, as well as an attic studio built into the roof structure of the heritage dwelling. These adaptable areas allowed for a number of options: Zoned spaces as the kids become teenagers, separate work areas for home offices and the option of a guest retreat for visitors.

The renovated period section of the home seamlessly opens onto a contemporary light-filled open space that faces onto a paved and private rear courtyard with tropical planting and the welcome addition of a plunge pool.

To assist with the architectural process, Mancini Made developed a number of alternative design-to-cost options to help our client arrive at an optimal solution. We believe Osborne Street will epitomise the conversion of a small and compact site into a large, stylish and practical family home.

SERVICE
– Build

LOCATION
– Williamstown

ARCHITECT
– ClarkeHopkinsClarke Architects