Small But Mighty - Tess + JJ’s House by po-co Architecture

Quite often the smallest gesture can lead to a larger movement. In many circumstances, it is habitual to think of our own needs first, sometimes even overlooking the needs of those around us. This is not the case with Tess + JJ’s little house in South Yarra, a new build with the utmost regard for its context and adjacencies.

South Yarra, in Melbourne’s inner east, is a bustling hive of restaurants and urban amenities. Yet choosing to live near the city’s many conveniences usually results in a compromise of space, and inhabitants can become territorial over their allocation of square meterage, attempting to maximise their dwellings without considering the implications on neighbours’ views and access to natural light. When building in dense urban environments, architecture is not only for the occupants but for the community surrounding the building as well. po-co Architecture had this principle of considerate design at the forefront when making decisions for Tess + JJ’s House that would also impact the neighbours.

From the streetscape, Tess + JJ’s House mimics the local vernacular with a modern appreciation for the preceding heritage frontages. The entrance is modest and gives little indication of the achieved scale that awaits within. “In order to keep the rhythm of single-storey houses along the street, we created the illusion of an over-scaled single-storey house from the front and reinterpreted the typical single window and front door arrangement of its neighbours,” says Fiona Poon, director of po-co Architecture.

The internal experience for the family of four drove the project from the beginning. The desire to live near the city but also have a place for calm escape is fundamental to Tess, JJ and their two young children. Beyond the humble entry point, the back of the home opens up to spacious kitchen, living and dining zones. The angled footprint of the house is used to an advantage, coupled with cleverly placed lofts to provide privacy from neighbouring multi-story apartments. Strategically framed garden and sky views give the illusion of expansive natural surroundings. Within a small block of land, Tess + JJ’s House is an example of how large a space can feel with appropriate planning.

The combined kitchen and dining space is exaggerated with double heighted ceilings and backs onto the outdoor area with a pool, which makes it easy and comfortable for socialising. The family love cooking and entertaining, so the functionality of every space is optimised to ensure it is adaptable depending on the occasion. Upstairs, the children’s bedrooms are designed to feel like a cubby house, very popular amongst the two younger residents.

Sharing space with an increasingly greater number of people is quickly becoming a reality in Australia’s major cities. po-co Architecture’s intelligent design approach, with a mindfulness of shared resources, is a progressive step toward creating an urban fabric that promotes respectful coexistence and social harmony.

po-co Architecture had this principle of considerate design at the forefront when making decisions for Tess + JJ’s House that would also impact the neighbours.