Architecture

A Fresh Update For This Incredible Plant-Covered, Small Footprint Home

Melbourne design studio Multiplicity are no strangers to renovating architecturally-significant homes, but their new project, ‘We Should Be So Lucky’, is the first time they’ve personally known the original architect, David Luck

Originally known as ‘Grass House’, this North Fitzroy property is less than 10 years old, but had a few significant building issues until the recent renovation.  

Working entirely within the property’s existing and incredibly compact 45 square metre footprint, Multiplicity resolved the home’s structural problems, and elevated the interiors to the same standard as the remarkable green facade.

Written
by
Amelia Barnes

Grass House is a compact modern home originally designed by David Luck Architecture. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

Despite being less than a decade old, the house had numerous building issues and lacklustre interiors until a recent renovation by Multiplicity. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

Renovations were largely focused on updating the interiors to be as visually interesting as the famous exterior. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

White laminate was replaced with tactile timbers, plywood, and stone, while new doors and windows were added for improved security and access to weeding the facade. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

‘All the colours and materials are a gentle background for them to live in the house,’ says Multiplicity co-director and interior designer, Sioux Clark. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

Due to a limited budget, no structural changes were made to the property, although these may be investigated in future to further maximise the compact, two-storey floor plan. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

This project involved numerous interventions to resolve structural concerns to the grass facade, including remedying the galvanic corrosion on the exterior metal, and fixing the irrigation system. ‘It’s now fully timed, seasonal, and automatic…and all the soil has been replaced,’ Sioux says. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

To passersby, Grass House appears exactly as it did upon its original completion, but changes to the functionality and liveability of the house have been dramatic. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

The property occupies every inch of its small 45 square metre site. Photo – Emma Cross. Styling – Gaby Slade

Writer
Amelia Barnes
6th of May 2022

Residents of Melbourne’s inner-north are likely familiar with Grass House — a compact modern home with a thriving green facade designed by David Luck Architecture

Despite being less than a decade old, this Melbourne home had a few significant building issues, and lacklustre interiors until a recent renovation by Multiplicity

Sioux Clark, Multiplicity’s co-director and interior designer,  explains, ‘It was owner-built and in a very bad state, but I don’t think anyone could actually see just how falling apart or corroding it was. There were a lot of issues with the metal cladding, the way in which the garden beds were fed, and the gutters; and the soil that was malnourished because it wasn’t getting enough water.’ 

Other issues pertained to liveability and comfort given the lack of security at street level; minimal storage space; and ill-conceived spaces within such a compact area. ‘It’s on a laneway and on a very small footprint – between 45 and 47 square metres — so it’s right up on the footpath. Other than the planting, there’s no filter between the inside and outside,’ says Sioux.  

Sioux and Multiplicity co-director and architect Tim O’Sullivan are friends with David, so they called him to discuss their plan for the renovation. David was unfazed, even giving his blessing to demolish the home (!), but Sioux, Tim, and project architect Ellen Kwek were dedicated to respecting his original design intent. 

Inside, white laminate was replaced with tactile timbers, plywood, and stone, while new doors and windows were added for improved security and access to weeding the facade.

Inspiration was drawn from the client’s brief, containing reference to Scottish moors and the Australian outback. ‘Lots of greens, purples and browns — really earthy colours,’ says Sioux. ‘All the colours and materials are a gentle background for them to live in the house.’

Due to a limited budget, no major structural changes were made to the property, although these may be investigated in future to further maximise its compact, two-storey floor plan. ‘We made a decision that we would put money into better finishes, storage, and systems,’ says Sioux.  

The project also involved numerous interventions to resolve structural concerns to the facade, including remedying the galvanic corrosion on the exterior metal, and fixing the irrigation system. ‘It’s now fully timed, seasonal, and automatic… and all the soil has been replaced,’ Sioux says. Landscape design updates were completed by Mcnuttndorf Landscapes.

To passersby, Grass House appears exactly as it did upon its original completion, but changes to the functionality and liveability of the house have been dramatic. 

The name of the project today, ‘We Should Be So Lucky,’ is a playful nod to David Luck’s original design, which Multiplicity feel honoured to have seen to fruition. 

‘It’s a complete turnaround — it’s given life to what is a really creative and individual idea by David,’ says Sioux. ‘It’s done everything that needs to have happened to give that house longevity.’ 

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