wedge-shaped family home inserted into melbourne neighborhood by OOF! architecture

faced with a challenging site and constrained brief; a triangular plot of land and a heritage context. the overhaul of ‘acute house’ saw a distinctive wedge-shaped dwelling erected in a residential neighborhood in melbourne, australia.

acute house by oof! architecture
all images © nic granleese

completed by OOF! architecture, the original structure has become decrepit over the years, the original victorian weatherboard cottage inhabitable unless completely refurbished and overhauled. the triangular site dictated the outcome of the building; the geometry required an adjustment to the layout and lifestyle expectations of a conventional family house. as a result, the home presents multiple levels and takes advantage of height to accommodate the programs in which the family needed for their day-to-day lives. split levels provide visual privacy to the three-storey property, while promoting a sense of definition without wasting precious space on internal walls, corridors or doors.

‘we tried to retain its weathered character by re-using as much original fabric as possible from warped weatherboards and fence palings to random accumulations such as door knobs, vents and street numbers. like fragile museum artefacts, these were carefully removed, labelled, stored and re-installed in their original location on a new mount that not only highlights their charms by contrast but allows the house to live again in a new way.’ – OOF! architecture

to take advantage of the opportunities of such an unusual site, multiple levels were inserted to accommodate the basic
space needs of a family home

the social programs: living and dining were placed on the middle floor meanwhile the master bedroom on the top and kids bedroom on the ground level. continuous circulation is provided through each floor with no dead-ends, allowing spaces to be kept feeling spacious and uncluttered – visually or physically. due to the lack of space available for a landscaped area or garden, instead, the architects decided to turn the interior into artificial landscape. this has been illustrated with the lawn green carpets running throughout the stairwell, hanging plants, an aquarium and naturally lit rooms.

programs are distributed over split levels with the vertical space of the stairwell providing visual privacy

this total lack of garden is offset by the artificial internal landscape of the stairwell with lawn green carpets

continuous circulation is provided through each floor with no dead-ends

the contrast and monochrome material palette can be seen on the exterior

the resulting new wedge of house is designed as an unusual but highly responsive approach to the character of the
surrounding neighborhood

it takes on the challenge of preserving an important local landmark by working within the general typology

project info:

architect: fooi-ling khoo
planning + heritage: david brand
interior design: oof in collaboration with jpild
engineer: mark hodkinson consulting structural engineers
building surveyor: anthony middling & associates

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