In the picturesque creekside neighborhood of Coburg North in Melbourne, Australia, a stunning architectural transformation has recently been completed. The Cascade House, designed and built by Sonelo Architects founders Wilson Tang and Elodie Lim as their own family home, demonstrates how thoughtful renovation can breathe new life into a typical suburban dwelling. The project successfully rejuvenated a 1950s triple-fronted cream brick house, creating better connections with garden spaces, natural light, and accommodating the growing needs of their young family.

Wilson and Elodie purchased the property in 2018 with a clear vision to retain and update the existing spaces while adding a rear extension to create an additional bedroom. The ambitious renovation project unfolded strategically across four distinct stages over six years. The first phase focused on refreshing the bathroom and kitchen spaces in their original locations, which was completed quickly before the birth of the couple's first child.

The subsequent phases were executed with tactical precision. The second and third steps involved refining the sloping site's connection to the house and reworking the back of the existing structure to create a new, expanded threshold. These modifications were designed in anticipation of the final and most dramatic phase – adding the rear footprint that would complete the home's transformation.

The rear extension replaced an existing garage, a strategic decision that allowed the new addition to be positioned against the site's southern boundary. This placement maximized the home's north-facing connection with the rear yard, optimizing natural light exposure throughout the day. The new footprint includes an innovative entry zone that completely flips the home's original logic, relocating all living spaces to the rear north-facing areas while converting the existing front rooms into bedrooms and service spaces.

Upon entering through the new entrance, visitors are greeted by a sunken living space that maximizes the spatial generosity of the area while simplifying construction requirements. This design allows the new roof structure to seamlessly integrate under the existing roof form. The harmonious relationship is dramatically punctuated by a striking pop-up light scoop positioned over the seating area, which frames spectacular views of the sky above. Beyond this living area lies a flexible space currently utilized as a home office.

These newly created spaces are strategically positioned adjacent to the cascading rear garden terraces, ensuring that the crucial green space connects generously with the key living areas. A singular pop-up lantern rising above the low-lying flat roof serves as the extension's crowning feature, drawing uninterrupted natural light deep into the interior spaces.

Throughout this ambitious project, Wilson and Elodie successfully wore multiple hats as architects, contractors, and clients. Their architectural creativity is evident in innovative details such as the metallic appearance achieved through stained medium-density fiberboard lining in the living spaces. Their construction skills are showcased in precise elements like the two-stepped profile of the rear extension's thin projecting eave. Most importantly, their role as homeowners is reflected in how the rich and varied infiltration of natural light perfectly aligns with their daily family routines.

The completed Cascade House stands as a compelling example of how architectural intervention can transform a typical suburban dwelling into an invigorating family sanctuary. Built on the traditional land of the Wurundjeri people, the 178-square-meter home sits on a 502-square-meter site and represents a successful collaboration between the owner-builders and various specialists, including Cale Peters Constructions, Pinnacle Building Surveying, Structify Consulting, Amanda Oliver Gardens, and Hatch Painting.