A stunning Victorian terrace house renovation in Carlton has transformed a dark, cramped 1870s home into a bright, flexible family sanctuary that embraces the wonderful chaos of modern family life. Architecture Architecture, led by director Michael Roper, completely reimagined the narrow 5.7-meter-wide property for clients who returned from years abroad in Paris and Berlin with two young children, seeking a space that could accommodate their active lifestyle.
The original Victorian terrace suffered from typical period home problems that made it unsuitable for contemporary family living. The house featured a doglegged corridor connecting small, isolated living rooms, pervasively dark spaces throughout, and a gloomy light court that failed to bring natural light into the interior. These architectural limitations created a fragmented living experience that didn't support the open, connected lifestyle the family desired after their European experience.
"Our clients wanted an active home that would come to life at the end of the school day, facilitating creative projects, shared meals, music practice and impromptu visitors," explains Michael Roper, director of Architecture Architecture. This vision required a complete rethinking of how the traditional terrace layout could serve modern family needs while respecting the building's Victorian heritage and character.
The renovation strategy carefully balanced preservation with transformation, maintaining the home's traditional front parlor room for quiet activities while revolutionizing the rear spaces. A translucent sliding screen now peels back to reveal what Roper describes as "an expansive, welcoming hall reminiscent of a civic space" with direct views into a sunny courtyard. This dramatic intervention creates visual connections throughout the home while maintaining functional separation when needed.
The centerpiece of the renovation is an open-plan zone that ingeniously combines kitchen, living, and dining areas into one flexible space that can easily adapt to the family's changing daily routines. This "Main Hall" represents a significant departure from traditional terrace house layouts, creating a generous central gathering space that can accommodate everything from homework sessions to dinner parties. The upstairs level houses the family's bedrooms, maintaining privacy while staying connected to the active ground floor.
Thoughtful design details throughout the space create warmth and ambiance while supporting the home's flexible functionality. At one end of the Main Hall, timber-lined walls provide "the gravity and presence of a library, with a sense of formality that speaks to the clients' antique and heirloom furniture pieces," according to Roper. The opposite end presents a completely different character, featuring bright white surfaces and informal styling with mobile benchtops on casters that can be reconfigured as needed.
Natural light plays a crucial role in the home's transformation, with strategic interventions bringing brightness into previously dark spaces. A carefully positioned skylight illuminates a row of glass bricks with soft sunlight throughout the day, while floor-to-ceiling doors frame views of bookshelves in an art studio tucked at the rear of the garden. This studio space, currently used for creative activities, is designed to eventually transform into a granny flat-style retreat for the family's teenagers as they grow older.
Despite the elegant final result, Roper acknowledges that the renovation presented significant technical challenges for both his design team and the structural engineers involved in the project. "There's a reason we don't see terrace houses renovated this way," he notes, referring to the complexity of opening up the ground floor while maintaining the building's structural integrity. The narrow lot dimensions and Victorian-era construction methods required innovative engineering solutions to achieve the desired open-plan layout.
The completed renovation successfully demonstrates how thoughtful design can honor a building's historical character while adapting it for contemporary life. The project proves that Victorian terrace houses, despite their limitations, can be transformed into homes that support the complex, active lifestyles of modern families without sacrificing their inherent charm and architectural significance. The result is what Roper describes as "utterly enchanting" – a space that successfully combines 19th-century terrace flair with the flexibility required for 21st-century living.
