Fowler and Ward has redesigned Smith House in Melbourne, Australia.

Smith House is a project that celebrates, rather than reinvents, an underappreciated era of housing: the ubiquitous brown-brick suburban Melbourne home.

An exercise in spatial restraint, with an addition of only eight square metres, Smith House prioritises quality over quantity of space.

The use of colour, texture and nostalgic materials reinvigorates the original building fabric and demonstrates that embracing existing character can result in a delightful and sustainable way of life.

"Our clients loved the bones of their typical 1970s, brown brick Brunswick West home, but were suffering from its south-facing rear orientation and highly-segmented living spaces," said Fowler and Ward.

"Our response focused on maximising solar access to the primarily south-facing living spaces and establishing a connection between these and the garden."

This project has been longlisted in the house renovation category of Dezeen Awards 2024.

Studio: Fowler and Ward
Project: Smith House