Blue House

Families grow and need more space, but inner-city sites can be tight. The Blue House in Yarraville is no exception, requiring an extension to a weatherboard house for a family of four with two growing children. On a small block of 260m2, the challenge was to add two bedrooms, a living area, and a space for a bathroom to the existing home, without encroaching on the small backyard. The solution was to extend upwards, rather than outwards, and make the most of the existing roof volume. 

The material for the new addition is charred black timber, chosen to contrast with the lighter existing weatherboard. While the exterior is neutral and subdued, the interior is playful. Bright bold blocks of blue contrast with ply ceilings, timber trims, and white joinery, whilst brass fittings provide a bit of bling. In the bedrooms, steel window boxes lined with colourful painted ply on the inside, provide the kids with a nook to sit in.