Kaurna People
South Australia
Malvern is a carefully resolved, long-term transformation of a double-fronted cottage in a Residential Conservation Zone, designed by a husband-and-wife architect and interior designer team as their own family home. Shaped by more than two decades of living on site, the project responds to light, wind, privacy and neighbourhood character with a quiet, non-dominant extension that sits behind the original cottage and nests into the surrounding tree canopy. The plan prioritises everyday amenity—generous shared spaces, calm retreat zones and a strong connection to the garden—supporting family life as children grow into teenagers. Prefinished, durable materials and precise detailing reduce maintenance and enhance longevity. The result is a restrained, contemporary addition that respects heritage context, protects neighbour amenity and demonstrates how architectural generosity can be achieved through simplicity, performance and enduring craft.
We live here as a family, and the design has made everyday life calmer and easier. The new spaces feel light, private and connected to the garden, with places to gather and places to retreat—especially important as our children have grown into teenagers. The addition sits quietly behind the original cottage, so the street still reads as it always has. It’s comfortable year-round, low-maintenance, and it has helped us appreciate how little space you actually need when it’s planned well.