Modern Melbourne Home Inspired by a Homeowner’s Lush Garden

  August 21, 2024
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Centered around a homeowner’s beloved garden in the Melbourne suburb of Brunswick East, the Gardener’s House by Splinter Society blends old-world charm with contemporary design. The project integrates the new addition with an original period structure, which has been given a fresh, modern update with a bold tonal red exterior. The front facade retains the house’s historic character, with its Italianate features and original masonry, yet the color choice serves as a bridge between the past and the present. The architecture is seamlessly integrated into the natural surroundings, creating an immersive experience that celebrates both the home’s heritage and the client’s deep connection to the landscape. By preserving the original structure and incorporating it into the new design, the architects have created a dialogue between different eras, making sustainability a key aspect of the renovation.

One highlight of the Gardener’s House is the way the architecture interacts with the garden. The extension of the house is not just an addition but a continuation of the landscape. The former concrete veranda, now peeled back, opens up to a modern living space that is bathed in natural light, thanks to the strategic positioning of the new volume. This space is surrounded by pockets of greenery, including the client’s collection of exotic orchids, which thrive in the microclimates created by the design. The result is a living environment that is deeply connected to the outdoors, with light and shadow playing across the interiors throughout the day.

A modern house covered with greenery, with a mix of concrete and black wooden exterior elements, surrounded by lush plants and foliage.

A view of a garden with lush green plants from inside a room through a glass wall, with a brick pillar and a painting hanging on it.

In a bold departure from traditional layouts, the new extension faces the neighboring property, allowing sunlight to flood the space despite the limited orientation of the block. This clever positioning, combined with large glazed windows, ensures that the interior is enveloped by views of the garden, making nature an integral part of the home’s design. The red continues from the front into the backyard with the adjacent property’s red brick wall becoming a backdrop, peeking through the greenery that scales the wall.

A modern seating area with a black leather chair, a small round table, and a paper lantern light in front of large windows showcasing a lush green garden.

The new addition is deliberately understated, with its rectilinear form clad in raw cement sheets that complement the masonry of the original building. Wood elements are incorporated to support climbing plants, which will gradually obscure the architecture as they grow, further embedding the house within its lush surroundings. The design is minimalistic yet thoughtful, with every detail carefully considered to enhance the connection between the built environment and the garden.

Modern living room with a large window, two black leather chairs, a blue sofa, a small round table, and a hanging lamp. The window offers a view of green plants and a brick wall outside.

Modern living and dining area with large windows, gray curtains, black armchairs, a blue sofa, a wooden dining table with black chairs, and a large pendant light. Lush greenery is visible outside.

A pergola extends over a floating deck, designed to encourage rapid vertical plant growth, providing shade and a tranquil spot to enjoy the dappled sunlight. Inside, a dark color palette in the new living spaces evokes the feeling of being under the garden canopy, creating a cozy, intimate atmosphere that contrasts with the brightness of the outdoor spaces. The interior design is eclectic, featuring a mix of salvaged pieces from the old house and items collected during the client’s travels, each piece adding to the curation of the home.

A modern dining area with a large wooden table, chairs, and a hanging light. There's an open doorway leading to a hallway, and a window showcasing an outdoor garden with greenery.

Modern kitchen with dark-toned cabinets, wooden dining table, black chairs, hanging light fixture, and a minimalist backsplash, surrounded by black walls with artwork.

The dark moody kitchen is kept light and airy with windows flanking both sides of the space. A wood countertop and dining table provide a warm contrast to the minimalist space.

View through a doorway with partially exposed brick and concrete leading to a modern dining area with a wooden table, chairs, and large window showcasing green trees outside.

A narrow corridor with dark walls leads to a small bathroom featuring a sink, mirror, and tiled wall. Curtains hang to the left, and light filters in from a window.

A modern bathroom with dark tiles, a window, a mounted towel rack, a wall mirror, and minimalist fixtures. A framed picture hangs on the blue wall.

A dimly lit modern bathroom with a dark freestanding bathtub, a wall-mounted washbasin, a large window with leafy view, and hanging pendant lights.

A small courtyard garden features potted plants and greenery against a red and black wall, with a small table and chair set. A roof with tiles is visible above the walls.

A red house with a tiled roof, porch supported by two columns, and surrounded by lush green and flowering plants, partially shaded by tree branches.

Brick red pillars and a brown chair on a tiled porch overlook a garden with various green plants and trees in the background.

For more information on Splinter Society, head to splintersociety.com.

Photography by Sharyn Cairns.

Caroline Williamson is Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk. She has a BFA in photography from SCAD and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, doing New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or reworking playlists on Spotify.





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