The Wurundjeri-willam people of the Kulin
Victoria
Situated at the end of a quiet cul-de-sac in Northcote, which transforms each weekend into a lively communal space animated by neighbourhood children, the Bank Street House reimagines the suburban home through its modest scale and generous engagement with both landscape and community.
The house is a compact, single storey dwelling capped by a large, habitable green roof. From above, the entire site reads as a continuous, expansive garden. The front façade folds down to meet the footpath, transforming the roof into an extension of the public realm, blurring the threshold between public and private space and allowing the informal play of the court to extend up onto the house itself.Â
Materially, the house is unified by an almost singular palette of reclaimed timber, precisely detailed across cladding, doors and joinery, as well as an integrated façade system that provides nuanced control over light, ventilation, and privacy.
We love how comfortably our home sits within the street rather than dominating it. It feels open and connected to the neighbourhood and the daily life of the cul-de-sac. The roof garden is one of our favourite spaces. Planted with native species and vegetables, it’s as much a habitat for bees and birds as a place for us to relax. It changes with the seasons and keeps us connected to the landscape. Inside, the design makes daily living easy: the house stays cool in summer, warm in winter, and the efficient layout gives us everything we need without excess.
Michael Barraclough, Director in charge
Dennis Prior, Design review
Melissa Spencer, Graduate of Architecture
Andrew Devine, Graduate of Architecture
Ryan Bate, Graduate of Architecture
Ben Monagle, Construction Manager
Argall, Structural Engineer