“This house never ends.”

This was the review of Steffen Welsch’s son, on site to explore the architect’s latest project: the renovation and expansion of a historic Edwardian weatherboard house in a charming Melbourne suburb. The observation was so astute that it gave the project its name.

While most modern Australian homes are open-concept, the German homeowners of This House Never Ends were keen to bring a more compartmentalized, European approach to their 2,734-square-foot space. The result is a cascade of cozy rooms that draws you through in unexpected ways—a delightful labyrinth, as Welsch’s young architecture critic noted, that feels weighted with possibility.

“You walk through, and there’s something else and something else and something else,” says Welsch. “It was designed so you always have a choice to go in different directions.”

Before: Courtyard

After: Courtyard

Before: Backyard

After: Backyard

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Terraces lead onto other terraces. A secret passageway in the closet connects the rooms of the homeowners’ daughters (“Like The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe,” says Welsch). Under the stairs, a little built-in seat offers a surprising spot for rest and contemplation...or, for the adventurous, a boost to help you climb out the window. “You might sit under the stairs and think, ‘Oh, I might climb outside,’” says Welsch. “When somebody has those moments of discovery, that’s my favorite bit of the house.”

For Welsch, a “never-ending” house has another meaning, too: “When you think about your home, it develops and evolves along with you.” The homeowners’ two daughters are in elementary school now, but when they’re teenagers, they’ll be using the home in a totally different way. Hopefully the door to Narnia, though, will stay in use for years to come.

More Before & After:

A Funky ’70s Condo in Oregon Gets a Soulful Makeover

An L.A. Loft in a Former Nabisco Factory Gets a Japanese-Inspired Makeover

Project Credits:

Architect of Record and Interior Design: Steffen Welsch Architects / @steffenwelscharchitects
Builder/General Contractor: Renovation One / @renovationone
Structural and Civil Engineer: Webbconsult Structural Engineers / @webbconsult
Landscape Design: Henry Architects
Cabinetry Design/Installation: Woodcraft Mobiliar
Sustainability Consultant: Blue Lotus Energy Rating
Town Planning Consultant: Plans in Motion / @plans_in_motion

Also Appears In

Before & After: Confetti-Like Brick and a Secret Passageway Bring Whimsy to a Melbourne Edwardian