Set within the tight grain of Prahran, the Donald Street House is a refined response to the challenges of inner-urban living—where heritage, budget and spatial constraint converge. Occupying a small 219sqm site, this duplex heritage dwelling navigates complex planning controls through a careful renovation and single storey rear extension, demonstrating how contemporary architecture can quietly amplify an existing fabric.

The design prioritises a compact, efficient layout, transforming limitations into clarity. Living spaces are reoriented to the rear, where a small courtyard becomes the project’s environmental and social anchor. Here, full-height glazing dissolves boundaries, enabling seamless indoor/outdoor living and extending the perceived footprint of the home.

Internally, a restrained warm and natural material palette—timber joinery, soft neutral surfaces and textured finishes—grounds the architecture in tactility. This approach reflects a broader philosophy seen in Melbourne residential work, where natural materials and light are essential to creating meaningful living environments . The open plan living, dining and kitchen zone forms the spatial heart, encouraging flexibility and connection within a modest footprint.

Above, highlight windows introduce controlled daylight deep into the plan, balancing privacy with illumination. This passive strategy enhances comfort while reinforcing the home’s energy efficient, all electric agenda—an increasingly critical consideration in contemporary residential design.

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