House B by Kart Projects

Offering a striking juxtaposition between new and old, House B is a sensitive restoration of a heritage home in Melbourne’s eclectic inner-city suburb of Brunswick.

Designed by Kart Projects and built in collaboration with the owners, the original building was a mismatched accumulation of renovations and extensions – accumulated over 60 years by its previous owners – with beautiful existing heritage features. The brief therefore called for a fresh space that would be practical for a young family with multifunctional and connected rooms while maintaining a sense of character and respecting the heritage bones of the home. The design also prioritised construction systems that the owners could carry out themselves to minimise contracting out works or the need for specialist trades.

From the street, a translucent glass wall – that lights the new living spaces while maintaining security and privacy – is offset by the red brick of the original terrace, creating visual drama.

From the street, a translucent glass wall – that lights the new living spaces while maintaining security and privacy – is offset by the red brick of the original terrace, creating visual drama. The new extension dips down over the living spaces before rising at the back of the block, preventing the overshadowing of neighbours and creating a new internal courtyard.

The design approach focuses on opening up the main living spaces, bringing light into a skinny terrace and taking advantage of the corner site. Bedrooms and wet areas are split between the front for children and visitors and the parent’s retreat that is elevated over the garage at the back of the block.

Kart Projects injects new life and vitality into a Brunswick street corner with a bold extension to a heritage terrace.

Materials are used to create a distinction between old and new. For example, a full-width opening supported by an expressed steel frame in the back wall marks where the renovated terrace meets the extension. Similarly, materials and finishes are applied in blocks of colour or texture to define different elements of the house. The existing portion features original and ornamental detailing, which is contrasted with brighter and stripped-back new spaces that combine steel framing, glazing and plywood joinery. Most materials are repurposed, such as the original bricks from the demolished section of the home.

Kart Projects injects new life and vitality into a Brunswick street corner with a bold extension to a heritage terrace. Through a sensitive approach, the design ushers in a new era while simultaneously connecting the home to its roots.

Architecture by Kart Projects. Build by Damian Hanna and Karolina Musiatowicz. Appliances by Miele and Fisher & Paykel.