Perched on a hilltop in the multicultural Melbourne suburb of Richmond is a family home that the owners share with their two elderly mothers. The 4,154-square-foot residence, which was designed by local studio B.E Architecture, is composed of two distinct parts: the original period house, which was beautifully restored, and a new, modern extension.

“Most clients and architects would have looked at the existing building with despair, but for this project, the site and house have been turned into a massive opportunity to salvage a piece of history and the lifestyle it represents,” says Jon Boucher, B.E Architecture’s director and co-founder.

“Each component creates its own distinct vernacular. Together, the two create a cross section through architectural history along James Street. The aim was to have the best of both worlds—the heritage values of the site combined with an exaggeration of the possibility of the future,” Boucher explains.

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Project Credits:

Architecture, interior, and landscape design: B.E Architecture / @b.e_architecture

Builder: Marven Construction

Civil engineering: McLeod Consulting

Photography: Peter Clarke