Located in an Industrial pocket of inner city Melbourne gradually being turned over to residential use this proposed caretaker residence re-interprets an existing mechanics ‘Garage’ located between 2 double storey warehouses within a heterogenious back lane.

Conceived as a box within a box the new program has no conventional windows. The ground floor presents as a Living/Display courtyard surrounded by 4 existing concrete boundary walls. The 2nd level sleeping quarters are essentially inserted as an opaque box creating a hovering ceiling above the ‘courtyard’. Perimeter double height voids at the edges - partly external, partly internal – enable light and ventilation shafts to the lower level ‘negative’ space.

Reminiscent of Eisenemans House II or Hedjuk’s House 8 where ellision processes create internal voids within new build cubist boxes, this proposal contains a similar end product but with an opposing strategy that is more Matryoshka doll - dwelling object inserted within a self-similar existing site container.

Awards:

Shortlisted - Architecture Australia 2008 - AA Prize for Unbuilt Work 2008.