Reinventing Compact Living: Rose Street by Eastop Architects.

Shadow play with hints of chiaroscuro dips inside the interior of Eastop Architects’ Rose Street house. Nestled tightly between a low unit apartment and a mirroring neighbour, it’s an intimidating challenge to reconfigure. However, the Melbourne architecture and interior practice saw the restrictions as an opportunity to reinvent small living. Through extensive workshopping with the clients, the founder of the practice, Liam Easton, sought to create a house that would defy expectations while instilling ephemeral qualities.

The two-storey terrace house is situated behind one of Fitzroy’s characteristic Victorian facades, containing three bedrooms, a kitchen, a laundry, a bathroom and a living area. These spaces were achieved through the simple act of hybridising programs and joinery within the lower level. In the living spaces, the powder room is combined with the laundry; and the kitchen and dining space has been merged into one through elongating a kitchen bench with a foldable top for additional guests.

As the house is overshadowed by its surrounding contexts, volume and voids are articulated to draw copious natural light into the interior. The bathroom on the second floor is fitted with a deep lightwell, allowing serenity to descend upon the pepper-speckled space. A large skylight above the kitchen introduces softened light into the space. The architects also took advantage of the large backyard framed with a large glass door, allowing light to flood and reflect off the terrazzo floor of the living room.

The interior is orchestrated with robust materials that unites the building’s heritage with a luxurious, contemporary edge. Exposed brick wall near-matching its neighbours runs mischievously just into the living area before halting at the dark timber island bench. White timber slats line along walls interconnected between the transition of the ground and first floor – illuminating while lifting the illusion of space. Sleek brass and brooding timber thoughtfully structure the heart of the house.

The living area, a plain white canvas, is furnished with two vintage leather Togo Fireside Chairs from Ligne Roset, and an Austere floor lamp by Hans Verstuyft for Trizo21. The addition of a leafy landscape view designed by Jamie McHutchinson adds a touch of magic to such a simple yet awe-inspiring space.

A house characterised by framing completed by shadow and light, Eastop Architect’s Rose Street definitely champions Mies’ famous quote “Less is more”.

[Images courtesy of Eastop Architects. Photography by Willem-Dirk du Toit.]