Blanche Street

The key driver was to provide a traditional family home on a tight 125m2 compact site. The spaces work hard, creating highly efficient and flexible zones that can adapt to the changing needs of the occupants. Downstairs the existing cottage consists of two bedrooms and a bathroom, with zoned living spaces surrounding a sun drenched north facing courtyard. The double height void space above the kitchen is overlooked by a study mezzanine. Upstairs the master suite has views over the undulating rooftops of Cremorne, AAMI Park and Melbourne’s skyline beyond. The volume of space goes beyond the client’s expectation.

The robust structure requires minimal maintenance; the calming interiors consist of zoned spaces for easy living around a north facing courtyard. The internal spaces are designed to evolve over time, ensuring this house will remain their home long into the future morphing from inner urban pad to family dwelling and conceptually repurposed and relocated to country retreat.

Stacking six shipping containers allowed a striking form to rise up from behind the existing heritage cottage, in which this vertical volume was manipulated with a void. Floor to ceiling windows punched through the containers, the views changing as you moved through the space.
The robust form references the gritty urban context while the interiors are designed to provide a calm haven, with flexible spaces adaptable to future needs. Features include a double height void to create volume, ample light from floor to ceiling windows, and views across the characterful neighbourhood to the city skyline.

One would be forgiven for thinking six shipping containers stacked in the backyard of a heritage worker’s cottage is a heavy handed and brutal approach that blatantly disregards its surroundings. But given Cremorne’s mix of cottages and industrial buildings, the design outcome couldn’t be a more appropriate response. The narrow street ensures tight sightlines, hiding the towering rear addition from view, protecting the heritage precinct from the front. Although from the rear the stack of containers stands proud amongst the mix of warehouses and industrial storage yards.

In order to create a holistic and visually integrated product down to the finest detail, we carried out the architecture and interior design. Technical details and modification work of the shipping containers was undertaken by the shipping container supplier in very close consultation with the structural engineer. The builder was also heavily involved from the outset to ensure buildability of the project. The building surveyor allowed us to explore alternative methods for building code compliance and was vital to the delivery of the project. Innovative Landscaping by Glasshaus help soften the harsh urban setting by create a lush courtyard oasis.

The project exceeded the client brief, having a bigger volume of space, a greater number of spaces, a higher level of finish and a greater sense of playfulness than that had hoped for. Coming in on budget, Blanche Street highlights that informed decision can create an architectural family home that has immense value beyond just a dollar figure for the clients.