austin maynard transforms 'kiah house' into a serene home-office covered by plants

austin maynard architects has completed ‘kiah house’ in melbourne, australia. the project saw an original victorian-era house, built in 1927, respectfully restored and updated. the design focuses on the concept of creating a ‘sanctuary’ and ‘home-office’ for the family while integrating outdoor areas with the inside of the home. 

the project saw an original victorian-era house, built in 1927, respectfully restored and updated
all images by tess kelly

influenced by japanese gardens and buddhist retreats, the design ensures solitude and privacy. the master bedroom ‘haven’ has a dedicated buddhist prayer space and opens up to the garden and ponds via sliding double-glazed glass panels, blurring the lines between inside and out. the towering lemon scented gum tree is enclosed by a small deck area, a place for the owners to sit and meditate. the roof of the retreat is covered in plants and edible vegetation to provide an abundance of insulation, as well as creating a buffer in the event of falling tree limbs.

the design focuses on the concept of creating a ‘sanctuary’ and ‘home-office

to accommodate the client’s request, austin maynard designed a private study which allows the client to work from home. elevated above the original house and accessed via a spiral staircase, the office offers a very different spatial experience to the rest of the house. perched on a deck in the canopy of the gum tree, the workspace provides elevated views of the dense green roof of the master retreat and beyond.

influenced by japanese gardens and buddhist retreats, the design ensures solitude and privacy

the kitchen and social areas open onto the garden 

brightly lit spaces create a serene environment

plants are placed in an interior garden 

a spiral staircase leads up to the client’s work space
the study is brightly illuminated

the master bedroom faces onto the street yet also has screens for privacy 

the home has flexible openings which allow for integration between interior and exterior 

the master bedroom opens onto the central garden and courtyard

the design defies the traditional victorian era home 

1/3

 

 

 

project team: andrew maynard, mark austin, natalie miles, ray dinh
site / floor area: site area 309 square meters
existing house: 95 square meters
addition: 68 square meters (53 square meters ground + 15 square meters first)
total floor area: 163m2
completion date: march 2017
builder: CBD contracting
engineer: r bliem & associates
mural: seb humphreys – order55
landscape design: damon fuhrer landscapes