Located on a former farmland site in Balwyn, the Kenny Street House designed by Chan Architecture Pty Ltd is a unique project in that the site is a relatively large, flat site surrounded by much smaller houses in the middle of suburban Melbourne. The new house makes reference to its agricultural origins via its? barn-like external form and its? location towards the centre of the site, similar to the location of the original homestead. Photography by Tatjana Plitt.

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Our client?s brief was for a light-filled family home that allowed all four members of the family to interact in the one main living space but to also offer various opportunities to have spaces that allowed for activities with varying levels of privacy. There was also a strong emphasis on sustainability in that the house had to be comfortable all year round with very low energy use and to encompass passive solar principles. We started by zoning the main double height living/dining/kitchen areas on the north side which allowed access to the most natural light with the bedrooms, bathrooms and utility rooms to the south. These double height living areas created a sense of space and volume to the main living areas as well as allowed a visual connection with the upstairs mezzanine retreat which was accessible from the upstairs bedrooms.
Externally, the materials selected were durable and robust – including metal cladding and drystone stacked walls which transitioned to warmer textu...