The Pigdon St House in Melbourne’s Carlton North is a reimagining of a single-fronted terrace as a light-filled, highly efficient home for a downsizing couple. Defined by a rare site condition, with laneways running along both boundaries, the site becomes an island within a dense urban fabric, unlocking opportunities for light, air, and unexpected spatial generosity.

The project is a careful heritage renovation paired with a single storey rear extension, negotiating complex planning requirements while restoring the character of the original heritage dwelling. The front rooms retain their historic integrity, transitioning seamlessly into a contemporary open-plan living space defined by clarity and restraint.

A high, timber-lined sloped ceiling lifts the rear addition, drawing in abundant natural light through highlight windows and framing sky views. This vertical expansion enhances spatial perception while supporting low vision living through even, glare-free illumination. Clean white walls provide a quiet backdrop for artwork, while a natural material palette—timber, stone, and soft textures—grounds the interior with warmth and tactility.

Efficiency underpins every move. Clever storage is integrated within joinery walls, maintaining visual calm and functional clarity. Open sightlines and improved physical connections extend living spaces outward to a landscaped courtyard, strengthening the dialogue between inside and out.

Environmental performance is equally embedded. High insulation, high-performance double-glazed timber windows, and natural cross-flow ventilation ensure thermal comfort year-round. The home operates as an all-electric system powered by solar energy, reducing its footprint while enhancing resilience.

Pigdon St House is both precise and generous— a considered response to context, heritage, and longevity, where architecture supports daily life with quiet intelligence.

This project is currently in construction. Follow along with the Pigdon Street journey over on our Instagram.

Please get in touch with us if you would like to know more about this project.