Windsor House
Tucked just off Chapel Street, Windsor House sits in the heart of one of Melbourne’s most dynamic inner-city neighbourhoods. With trams, cafés and laneway culture on its doorstep, the design needed to balance urban energy with the calm of home.
The brief was clear: retain the backyard, improve spatial efficiency, and create a greater sense of openness—all within a compact footprint and set budget. Instead of extending outwards, the strategy focused inward. By reconfiguring the plan and relocating the kitchen and bathroom, the living spaces were opened up to the courtyard—creating a more connected and functional home.
Windsor House is a project grounded in thoughtful restraint, where light, volume, and smart planning come together to breathe new life into a heritage home. It’s a space designed to evolve with the people who live within it.
At the front of the home, original period features were carefully preserved and restored—bringing warmth, texture, and a sense of history. These rooms lead naturally into the contemporary addition, creating a subtle but deliberate contrast between old and new.
The rear extension transforms the feel of the house. Skylights and expansive glazing bring in morning light, while a reshaped cathedral ceiling exposes the original roof form—introducing volume, light, and a sense of calm spaciousness into the core living area.
A combined bathroom and laundry maximises functionality without compromising comfort. Reeded glass screens offer semi-privacy while allowing soft light to diffuse through the space. Ample storage is built in, and every detail was designed to feel both practical and calm.