Most architects would probably run from a tiny, triangular site like this one in Melbourne, Australia, but not OOF! Architecture, who turned a rundown Victorian weatherboard cottage into a compact home, named the Acute House, for a modern family. Wanting to blend in with the neighborhood, they reused much of the original materials, including warped weatherboards, fence palings, door knobs, vents, and street numbers. Each piece was removed, labeled, put in storage, and then re-installed in its original place only this time on a new structure. Therefore, much of the original charm remains but in a fresh, new way.
They were granted permission to build on 100% of the site, but that left no outdoor space for the family to enjoy. That led the architect to incorporate spots within the house to access the outdoors, as well as the use of lawn green carpet on the stairs and large windows for outside views.
Large sliding windows open up the main living level so it feels like standing outside on a veranda. The house is also perfectly set up for cross ventilation since the rooms aren’t that wide and there are windows on both sides.
To accommodate the family’s needs the design required multiple floors, all connected via a vertical stairwell.
Just off the stairwell between two floors is a covered outdoor space to enjoy the neighborhood views and fresh air.
Photos by Nic Granleese.

3 Comments
Charlotte Lindsay on 04.17.2017 at 15:21 PM
What a stunning and unique space. I love how they used a mix of material on both the interior and exterior. Decorating an oddly shaped home is always tricky but they did a great job utilizing the most of the space, for example the interesting deck!
Ken Trough on 04.18.2017 at 14:22 PM
Curious about the title. You’re a US publication. Why “An Jaw Dropping” instead of “A Jaw Dropping”? Seems like it must have been intentional (leading in the title and all), but I can’t find a technical writer who thinks it’s a correct usage. Is this a non-US English language-based variance?
Genuinely curious.
Caroline Williamson (post author) on 04.18.2017 at 16:39 PM
It was a typo. Apologies.
Want your image to appear next to your comment? Get a gravatar!Leave A Comment