A single-storey house with a tiled roof and a modern addition on top, featuring large windows. The front yard has a white fence and greenery.

A single-storey house with a tiled roof and a modern addition on top, featuring large windows. The front yard has a white fence and greenery.

A single-story house with a red-tiled roof and a modern addition on top, featuring translucent panels. The house has a white exterior with brick accents and a small garden in front, enclosed by a white fence.
A modern two-story house with a prominent upper level featuring translucent and perforated metal cladding, surrounded by trees and a dark wooden fence.
A modern two-story house with a unique upper level featuring translucent panels and a flat roof. The lower level has a combination of brick and glass elements. There is a small garden on the roof of the lower level, and the house is surrounded by trees and a brick fence.
A modern two-story house with a metal-clad upper level and large windows, surrounded by trees.
A modern two-story building with a corrugated metal facade and a translucent upper section. The structure features a flat roof with greenery on the edge and a brick wall in the foreground.
A modern two-story building with a metal facade and large windows, featuring a rooftop garden.
A modern architectural addition to a house, featuring a multi-faceted highlight window and corrugated cladding. The structure is elevated, with a garden visible on the roof. A wooden fence and some vegetation are in the foreground.
A modern building extension featuring a perforated metal facade and a translucent upper section, with greenery on a flat roof.
Interior view of a modern staircase with a white railing and wooden handrail, adjacent to a textured white wall and a wooden door. A brick fireplace is visible on the left, and a round white pendant light hangs from the ceiling.
A minimalist interior space featuring a red cylindrical column, frosted glass panels, a wooden cabinet, a modern chair, and a brick fireplace.
Close-up view of a window with vertical frosted glass panels and a wooden frame.
A close-up view of a staircase with a wooden handrail and a metal net railing.
A small interior space featuring a wooden cabinet with a shelf above, a glass door, and frosted glass panels.
Interior view of a modern staircase with wooden elements and a curved archway.
A minimalist interior space featuring a built-in wooden desk with shelves, a wooden chair, and a wardrobe. The room has a light color palette with a combination of wood and white surfaces. A window is visible next to the desk, and there is a slatted wooden detail above the wardrobe.
Interior view through a window with wooden frame, showcasing a modern design with layered glass and corrugated paneling.
Interior view of a room corner featuring a highlight window with translucent panels and wooden trim.
Interior view of a hallway with a circular skylight, wooden flooring, and a staircase with a metal railing.
Interior view of a room with a wooden framed window overlooking trees and rooftops. The room features light wood paneling and a visible stair handrail.
A small bathroom with a round wall design, featuring a narrow vertical mirror, a small white sink, and a wall-mounted faucet. The bathroom has light-colored wood paneling and a frosted window.
Interior view of a minimalist bathroom with wooden panels, a frosted window, and a small sink.
Interior view of a minimalist room featuring a sleek metal cabinet with shelves, a wall-mounted lamp, and a high window allowing natural light.
Interior view of a minimalist room featuring wooden cabinetry and a smooth ceiling with a strip of high windows allowing natural light.
Interior view of a room with a large window overlooking trees. The room features light wood paneling and a bed with white bedding. The window is framed with wood, and there is a strip of translucent glass near the ceiling allowing additional light.
A minimalist bedroom interior featuring a bed with white linens, wooden cabinetry, and a window with a view of greenery outside.
A minimalist bedroom interior featuring a bed with white bedding, a wall-mounted lamp, and a built-in bookshelf next to a metallic wardrobe. The room is illuminated by natural light from a high horizontal window.
A minimalist bedroom interior with a bed, wall-mounted lamp, and open shelving. A wardrobe is partially open, revealing shelves and an iron on an ironing board.
A modern bathroom with a minimalist design featuring a wall-mounted sink, a large mirror, and a shower area with a rain shower head. The space is enclosed with light wood sliding doors.
A modern bathroom featuring a freestanding bathtub, a wall-mounted faucet, and a showerhead. The space is illuminated by a high window and has a sleek, minimalist design with light-colored walls and ceiling.
A floor plan labeled 'Ground Level - Demolition' showing various rooms including bed, living, kitchen, bath, WC, laundry, sitting room, and roof garden.
A floor plan of the proposed ground level layout, featuring labeled areas including a bedroom, living room, kitchen, bathroom, WC, laundry, sitting room, and roof garden.
Architectural floor plan of Level 01 for a proposed addition, showing layout with rooms labeled as Bed, WC, Bath, and Roof Garden.
Architectural section drawing of a proposed building addition, showing two levels with detailed structural elements.

Story

A thoughtful renovation elevating living spaces with light and air In St. Kilda East, Victoria, Office MI—JI has transformed a single-storey house by adding a new level that harmonizes with the existing structure. This renovation introduces two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a garden, all elevated above the original dwelling. The design responds to the client's desire for space, light, and air, ensuring that the new addition enhances rather than obstructs views across the neighborhood. The project is centered around a multi-faceted highlight window, allowing natural light to permeate the new spaces. The central staircase, crafted from materials echoing the original house, serves as the spine of the home, connecting the new and existing levels. U-channel glazing and strategically placed casement windows optimize sunlight and privacy, creating a sense of openness within the compact site. Sustainability and cost-effectiveness are at the core of this project. The use of recyclable materials like mini-orb, bendi-ply, and wood wool ensures longevity and environmental responsibility. The existing steel structure, installed during a previous renovation, supports the new level with minimal intervention, requiring only a single column at ground level.

## Design Highlights

Elevated addition with two bedrooms, a bathroom, and a garden Multi-faceted highlight window for enhanced natural light Central staircase integrating original house materials U-channel glazing for sunlight and privacy Recyclable materials for sustainability

## Key Facts

Key Aspect Details
Location St. Kilda East, Victoria, Australia
Architect Office MI—JI
Year of Completion 2024
Contractor BASE Constructs
Landscape Architect JALA Studio

Technical Summary

Finishes

  • exterior cladding: Low-cost and often recyclable cladding materials such as mini-orb, construction bendi-ply, and wood wool.
  • interior finishes: Light wood paneling and frosted glass panels.

Materials

  • metal — Facade cladding and structural elements.
  • glass — Windows and translucent panels.
  • wood — Interior finishes and furniture.

Construction / Systems

  • structural system: Utilizes existing steel structure with minimal intervention, supported by a single column.

Products

  • contractor — BASE Constructs (Construction and renovation execution.)
  • landscape architect — JALA Landscape (Landscape design and implementation.)

Palette / Lighting

  • Colors: light wood, white, metallic
  • Lighting: Natural light emphasized through skylights and large windows.

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