austin maynard architects has renovated and extended a narrow single-storey terraced house in a suburb of melbourne, australia. the reconfigured ?grant house? now contains a hidden cellar, a central garden, and a secret room in its roof. the playful and imaginative project draws on the firm?s experience and experimentation in solving the problems posed by such residences. ?for the past fifteen years our practice has been battling issues of inner city living and the regeneration of ageing building stock,? say the architects. ?we have learned how to deal with dark terraces with bad circulation, gaining the experience and skills to address the challenges.?

all images by derek swalwell | video by austin maynard architects
 
 
while the old part of the house has been respectfully maintained and updated, a new extension has been inserted between the original boundary walls. the addition contains the home?s kitchen, living, and dining areas, including the secret cellar, with a parent?s retreat found upstairs. importantly, the team at austin maynard architects was able to utilize the side laneway to position the main entrance at the center of the property. here, an imposing galvanized steel door opens onto a light-flooded courtyard that separates the old house from the new addition.
 
 
moving the entry not only allows the bedrooms to remain private, but also ensures that visitors are welcomed directly into the entertaining area. ?we created a visual and spacial separation b...