Cloud Street by Steffen Welsch Architects

Crafted by Steffen Welsch Architects, Cloud Street reflects the firm’s ethos of ‘building as background’. Embodying a thoughtful floor plan and an Environmentally Sustainable Design (ESD) approach, this modest home both connects to and contributes to its suburban surroundings.

Located in Northcote, a welcoming neighbourhood to the north-east of Melbourne’s CBD, Cloud Street stands with a clear identity within its architectural context. While the two-storey abode is visually understated, it demonstrates that large projects can be environmentally sensitive, engage with the community and exemplify sustainable development. The external architecture and landscaping enhance the home’s gentle, nurturing character, while the floor plan is carefully crafted to meet the needs of a modern family. At the heart of the property, a courtyard links internal spaces, fostering both connection and privacy.

The external architecture and landscaping enhance the home’s gentle, nurturing character, while the floor plan is carefully crafted to meet the needs of a modern family.

Architecturally, Cloud Street creates space for both nature and community. In collaboration with landscape designer Lisa Armstrong, Steffen Welsch Architects removed the front fence, establishing an open garden that connects with the street. Featuring local plant species often found in native grasslands, the garden supports birdlife and provides habitats for other animals. Designed to preserve and nurture the site’s existing ecology, it incorporates a nourishing layer of mulch into the retained topsoil. Set back from the street, modern varieties of fruit trees echo original plants that could no longer adapt to the changing climate.

Inside, the spaces are organised into distinct zones for parents, children, communal areas and utilities, all oriented toward the central courtyard. The parents’ wing, housed in a pavilion at the rear of the building, is separated from the main part of the house by a staircase tucked behind the kitchen. In contrast, the pavilion containing the children’s rooms is positioned at the front, offering easy access to the garden. Unlike typical Melbourne residences, the walls of Cloud Street are angled, and the ceilings are sloped. As a result, the dwelling appears to contract and expand, strengthening its connection to nature.

Inside, the spaces are organised into distinct zones for parents, children, communal areas and utilities, all oriented toward the central courtyard.

To create a healthy living environment, Steffen Welsch Architects considers both structure and materiality. Low-carbon materials are used throughout Cloud Street, including rammed earth in the building’s spine. This not only offers significant thermal mass and insulation properties but also enhances the acoustics of the home. The architectural layout around the northern courtyard maximises passive solar gain and natural ventilation, reducing the need for artificial climate control. A light-controlling verandah, strategically placed windows and thick walls with automated awnings further stabilise the interior environment. The timber-clad exterior is sympathetic to nature, gracefully reflecting the passage of time.

While maintaining a subtle architectural presence, Cloud Street champions ESD principles. From conception to completion, Steffen Welsch Architects has created a home that positively impacts both the environment and the local community.

Architecture by Steffen Welsch Architects. Build by Renovation One. Landscape design by Lisa Armstrong.