A Light Addition
Sitting lightly atop the original house, this project by Office MI–JI brings a striking sense of space, lightness and privacy to a home in Melbourne’s St Kilda East.
Home to a growing family of four, the early-20th century house needed to become lighter, more spacious and better suited to daily rhythms. The homeowners approached Office MI–JI with a brief to “increase the space and then also make sure that, while we’re doing that, there was an introduction of light to the project,” says practice co-founder and architect, Jimmy Carter.
A 2012 renovation altered the rear of the house but left the original front notably dark. The owners wanted a small-footprint, cost-conscious renovation that could make use of the existing steel framework.
In response, Office MI–JI undertook a small-scale, 49-square-metre addition. Built atop the previous renovation’s steel structure, the new upper level adds two bedrooms, a bathroom and a roof garden. The result reshapes the experience of the entire house, bringing new volume, light and generosity to the residence.
Central to this transformation is the U-channel glazing on the first-floor extension. Wrapping the upper walls like a continuous band of windows, it draws light into the home from above head height, creating a private, light-filled sanctuary. Carter describes it as “light without sight”. Additionally, the perforated corrugated cladding functions as a screen that prevents overlooking into neighbouring houses. “It also acts like a curtain, so the homeowners can lock out the early morning sun.” Passive design details further support cross-ventilation and shade the home from northern light.
Despite the home’s relatively small scale, a sense of openness is achieved through rigorous planning. In the new upper level, the ensuite is contained within the main bedroom, with a joinery unit doubling as a partial-height shower wall. “It feels like one large room, yet it contains two separate spaces.”
The compact extension has a positive impact on the existing build, enhancing both the original home and the earlier renovation. Interior spaces are made to work together and interconnect, while transitional areas, such as the stair landing, become cheerful moments of connection.
Contemporary lines and tactile, considered materials are seen throughout. Subtle references link old and new, from the white surface of the staircase, which mirrors the original kitchen cabinetry, to the mesh-and-timber handrail that highlights the connection between contemporary and original elements. Downstairs, blackbutt timber joinery in the sitting area, fireplace and record-player stand complements the flooring, adding warmth and continuity.
Upstairs, cork flooring is soft underfoot and sound-absorbing. Plywood joinery brings warm, light tones and an appealing timber grain to the interior aesthetic, contrasting nicely with the aluminium cladding used in the bathroom unit. The aluminium nods to the exterior of the house, while microcement in the ensuite was chosen for its gentle tone, complementing the muted palette of the ply.
The renovation brings brightness and liveability to the family home in thoughtful and inventive ways. For Office MI–JI, it was a lovely project to work on. “The clients were pretty amazing. They had a lot of trust and a lot of faith, but also a lot of intelligence in terms of what they wanted and what they didn’t want.”
