House B
House B is a minimal home located in Brunswick, Australia, designed by Kart Projects. Situated on a prominent corner lot, the project reimagines the home by prioritizing light and openness while respecting its historical context. The extension was carefully designed to maintain the prominence of the original terrace, gently descending over the living spaces and rising discreetly at the rear, ensuring the neighbors’ properties remain unaffected by overshadowing. A newly introduced internal courtyard further enhances light flow throughout the day. A defining feature of the extension is a translucent glass wall along its side, which filters light into the living areas.
This wall offers a balance of privacy and security while capturing the subtle movement of life behind it. Rather than opting for a large-scale addition, the design strategy focused on a smaller footprint with multifunctional spaces. This allowed the budget to be directed toward refined detailing and high-quality finishes across the modestly costed project. The house is now split into distinct zones: the front heritage terrace accommodates children and guests, while a private parents’ retreat, positioned above the garage at the rear, offers a secluded sanctuary. The transition between the renovated original structure and the modern extension is sharply delineated by contrasting forms and materials.
A steel-framed, full-width opening in the rear wall accentuates this division, creating a clear architectural dialogue between old and new. The material palette further underscores this duality. The heritage portion retains its original detailing and ornamentation, while the extension features minimalistic, contemporary finishes, such as steel framing, expansive glazing, and plywood joinery. Materials were thoughtfully selected with sustainability in mind. Original bricks salvaged from the demolition were cleaned and reused, and other elements were sourced from offcuts and surplus materials, reducing waste and construction costs.