Photographers studio

Colour, texture and materiality are explored in this highly detailed studio and home, reflecting the vocation, creativity and extrovert nature of the owner.

With a heritage overlay restricting changes to the period frontage of this North Melbourne terrace, the narrow site significantly overshadowed from the north, and footprint proposed to extend to the rear laneway, this was a site presenting many challenges, not least that the brief also included the desire for a triple garage.

Retaining the spacious ‘shop-front’ studio, with soaring ceilings providing ample floor to ceiling storage and sewing nook, the home then nestles behind, with living, kitchen and dining areas all outlooking into a colourful and lushly planted courtyard. The slightly separate sole bedroom is afforded privacy from the rear laneway by concealed balcony and screening. Colour is everywhere, including a taxicab yellow spiral stair originating in, yes – a three car garage, skylight lit, and winding to the living level.

From the outset there was a desire to incorporate a ‘green roof’; a rooftop garden planted out with succulents, providing an enhanced level of insulation to the bedroom below, and testament to the clients’ sustainability aspirations. After a number of years enjoying the home, the inability to enjoy an outlook onto the rooftop garden led to an extension of the spiral stair to a rooftop deck.

Architect
Narelle Edgar Architect

Builder – original works
Oldev Pty Ltd

Builder – rooftop deck
Whitehead Constructions Pty Ltd