Garden party: Figure ground Architecture creates multifunctional backyard studio
Maximising living space in urban areas requires both flair and a practical mind; both of which came into play, when Australian firm Figureground Architecture was tasked with providing an existing white weatherboard Californian-style bungalow in Melbourne with a new standalone backyard extension.
The clients and their eight-year-old twins were in desperate need of extra room to accommodate activities and visiting guests. The addition of this much-needed outbuilding would provide a multifunctional space outside the main property, which would serve as a playroom, garage, workshop and a spacious guest room with en-suite bathroom.
Located within the suburb of North Fitzroy, a residential area of mixed architectural heritage, this structure required careful consideration. The architects needed to ensure a generous interior, without reducing much the size of the garden. There were few restrictions, apart from size constraints on side boundaries and the client’s request of retaining the property’s large walnut tree.
The ground floor of this two storey bolt-hole accommodates the client's music studio, a storage room, a garage, play space and laundry area. The first floor is home to the guest room and bathroom.
A crisp, white timber skin clads the exterior. The material was chosen for several reasons; for its aesthetic, but also its durability against the region's changing seasonal weather. The vertical white slats almost appear to peel away from the external walls, partially concealing the stairs and playfully blurring the boundaries between landscape and building. This approach continues inside, where a plush green carpet adorns the music room, referencing the yard's greenery.
A sculptural roof defines the upper level, sitting at an angle above the garage area. This gesture provides a double-height space, brightly lit through a translucent ceiling, which also serves as a play area. At the rear end of the studio, white-painted brick features a roller door that opens to connect public and private spaces.
INFORMATION
For more information on the Backyard Studio, visit Figureground Architecture’s website
Photography: Derek Swalwell
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Get to know Issey Miyake’s innovative A-POC ABLE line as it arrives in the UK
As A-POC ABLE Issey Miyake launches in London this week, designer Yoshiyuki Miyamae gives Wallpaper* the lowdown on the experimental Issey Miyake offshoot
By Jack Moss Published
-
Eurovision unveils its 2024 stage, designed by Beyoncé's Renaissance Tour creatives
This year's stage design aims to bring the audience into the performance more than ever before.
By Charlotte Gunn Published
-
Ikea meets Japan in this new pattern-filled collection
New Ikea Sötrönn collection by Japanese artist Hiroko Takahashi brings Japan and Scandinavia together in a pattern-filled, joyful range for the home
By Rosa Bertoli Published
-
Burnt Earth Beach House is an experimental retreat crafted in terracotta
The experimental Australian Burnt Earth Beach House by John Wardle breaks new ground in material composition, using baked earth for warmth, texture and tonality
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Lavender Bay house opens towards the water, overlooking Sydney harbour
Lavender Bay house by Tobias Partners is an expansive family home overlooking Sydney harbour
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Mori House is an Australian beach escape fusing international design influences
Mornington Peninsula's Mori House by architect Manuel Aires Mateus is a striking fusion of Australian, Portuguese and Japanese design influences
By Stephen Crafti Published
-
Victorian cottage transformed by radical extension into a light-filled living space
Glasshouse Projects has opened up the heart of this Victorian cottage in Adelaide, Australia, with a contemporary garden extension and pool
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Sydney’s Wharf Apartment is a heritage maritime space that evokes a coastal holiday home
Lawless & Meyerson’s Wharf Apartment is a careful, contemporary residential transformation in Sydney’s Finger Wharf that taps into the property's historic character
By Grace Bernard Published
-
Eclat rethinks 21st-century workspace with a hospitality offering in Melbourne
With new Melbourne co-working space Eclat, Australian designers Forme defy the conventional shared office model through sensitive craftsmanship and hidden high-tech
By Carli Philips Published
-
This Melbourne aquatic recreation centre’s crafted timber ceiling hints at its sustainability ambitions
The Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre by Warren and Mahoney opens in Melbourne, blending sleek aesthetics with environmental responsibility
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Treetops House brings softness to contemporary concrete volumes in Sydney
Treetops House by Tobias Partners is an Australian home that juxtaposes crisp concrete volumes with soft curves, playful colours and lush nature
By Ellie Stathaki Published