Parallel Play – Twin Houses by John Ellway

Just beyond the Brisbane CBD, Twin Houses by John Ellway subverts the surrounding suburban vernacular, with two identical dwellings that offer adaptable design with a lush and communal feel.

The project was initiated by clients who, though not developers, seized the opportunity for an investment property and opted to stray from the typically suburban houses that surround the site. The original post-war asbestos-clad residence was removed and the land divided down the middle, creating two lots both 7.7 metres wide. Identical elevated houses were erected over the hilly site, running side by side down the length of the block. The undercroft of these elevated dwellings offers space for parking, storage and shaded play, while fulfilling the brief to leave space for potential future infill.

Stairs ascending from the courtyard reach a light-filled leafy landing, halfway between the ground level and the house above.

Entry to each house is via a courtyard, behind the undercroft, offering quiet and private access. Stairs ascending from the courtyard reach a light-filled leafy landing, halfway between the ground level and the house above. This decked area serves as a space to entertain or sit back, whilst keeping a watchful eye over children playing below. The stairs continue up to an open kitchen, dining and living space which looks out over a grassy backyard through large timber sliding doors. This sight line, along with a raked ceiling, offer a greater sense of spaciousness within the largely functional floorplan.

The hallway leading from the kitchen houses a desk for work and study, which overlooks the canopy of the courtyard, as well as an alcove that serves as the laundry. Three bedrooms with adjoining bathrooms occupy the street-facing end of the house. Simple techniques, common amongst volume housing projects, have been employed here to keep the build costs modest and the spaces adaptable to a myriad of occupants. Floor-to-ceiling aluminium louvre window openings let in light and air to counter the 2.4 metre ceiling height.

From the street outside the houses appear as one, with no front or diving fences to fracture the lawn. Lush passionfruit vine grows happily on a mesh trellis, covering the external wall of both houses and enhancing the shared landscape between the two lots. This landscaping by Studio Terrain inserts an unexpected sense of whimsy into the streetscape. The textured wall of greenery, shaped with a classically pitched roof, looks not out of place but, rather, enticingly curious. Greenery bordering the undercroft and encroaching on the courtyard is no different. Within an entirely functional floorplan, it hints at something fantastical, creating the feel of a liveable treehouse.

Recognised for its efficiency, adaptability and originality, Twin Houses offers a blueprint for a new suburbia. Modest homes, with integrated green spaces, that are functional and enjoyable, private yet connected, the project represents an optimistic yet achievable vision.