Australian architectural studio Matt Gibson Architecture & Design has completed a comprehensive renovation and expansion of a 19th-century terraced house in Melbourne, adding two distinctive brick extensions that draw inspiration from the Arts and Crafts architectural movement. The project, named "Mygunyah by the Circus," successfully accommodates a family of seven while creating a harmonious connection with the surrounding neighborhood.

The narrow terraced home, located in North Fitzroy, represents one half of a pair originally constructed in the 1880s. The project's unique name reflects both cultural heritage and local geography – "Mygunyah," inscribed on the home's parapet, derives from Australian Aboriginal languages meaning "my hut" or "my home," while "by the Circus" references the nearby circular road system that characterizes the area.

Matt Gibson Architecture & Design effectively doubled the home's floor area through the strategic addition of two brick pavilions positioned at the side and rear of the original structure. The design concept emerged from observing the stark contrast between the unchanged original terrace and its neighboring property, which had previously undergone renovation in an ornate Arts and Crafts style featuring steep roof pitches, asymmetrical design elements, exaggerated chimneys, and extensive brickwork.

"Over time, the terrace had seen little improvement or alteration, while its neighbor had long been renewed in the ornate Arts and Crafts style, boasting steep roof pitches, asymmetry, exaggerated chimneys and extensive use of brick," the architectural team explained. This neighboring property became the primary source of inspiration for the design approach, which the studio applied "in interpretive, abstracted and innovative ways" to reestablish the connection between the adjacent properties.

The original house, previously described as "compartmentalized and poorly lit," underwent significant reconfiguration to serve as the home's central core, now housing a series of bedrooms and more formal living spaces. On the western side, an abandoned garden strip was replaced with a striking black-brick pavilion containing a large shared family area that opens directly onto a timber-decked terrace. This volume pays direct homage to the neighboring Arts and Crafts home through its steeply pitched, timber-lined roof featuring a central skylight and an exaggerated chimney extending from a wood-burning fireplace.

At the rear of the property, the architects demolished a previous addition to construct a new extension on the same footprint. This pale brick pavilion houses a ground-floor kitchen and dining space with a bedroom positioned above. The structure features rough brickwork and an asymmetrical gable roof, punctuated by narrow arched windows, and extends to provide shelter for a paved terrace that overlooks the garden area.

The interior design carefully delineates the boundaries between old and new construction through a thoughtful mixture of exposed and white-painted brickwork. A narrow gap between the two pavilions forms part of an integrated walkway that cuts through the entire site, creating both functional circulation and visual interest. "The original structure is elevated to a position of preeminence within the new design scheme, and earmarked to house a variety of more formal living spaces and master bedroom suite, as it would have in the past," the studio noted.

The restoration process involved freeing the original structure from its "unsympathetic rear addition" and returning it to "its former grandeur with captivating and characterful elements highlighted, raw materials exposed, and craftsmanship celebrated." This approach ensures that the historical significance of the 1880s construction remains prominent within the contemporary design scheme.

The garden design complements the architectural intervention by dividing the outdoor space into a series of distinct "rooms," including dedicated areas for kitchen activities and picnicking. These spaces are separated by walls of climbing jasmine and punctuated by metal-framed openings that align with openings in the side extension, creating layered views throughout the property and enhancing the sense of spatial depth.

Matt Gibson Architecture & Design, established in 2003, has built a reputation for thoughtful residential renovations throughout Australia. Previous notable projects include a black metal-clad extension in South Yarra and an extension connected by a glazed bridge in Melbourne. The Mygunyah by the Circus project represents the studio's continued commitment to creating "robust and relaxed" homes that are "replete with idiosyncrasy and references to a storied past and soundly positioned for a long and bright future."