South Melbourne

Extension + renovation

Healy Ryan Architects and Yarrabank Builders transformed this narrow South Melbourne terrace into a luminous, modern sanctuary, blending tradition with innovation to overcome heritage constraints and limited space. A two-story light shaft channels sunlight into the reconfigured interiors, while a minimalist design maximises space with an oak kitchen island, larch flooring, and granite benchtops. The project also included constructing a new basement beneath the heritage-listed dwelling, achieved through five complex concrete pours on a site with just 1.7m access.

Architect: Healy Ryan Architects

Home. Truths.

“Yarrabank brought valuable expertise and enthusiasm to this small but highly complex project. The project faced its share of technical challenges as is to be expected with any substantial renovation of a Victorian terrace house. Added to the inherent complexities of working with an old building, this project involved the construction of a substantial basement, sandwiched between two adjoining two storey terraces, on a site less than 3m wide. We expected Yarrabank to bring their construction knowledge to bear on each challenge that arose during the project. And we were delighted and thankful for the energy, ‘can do attitude’ and lateral thinking that they brought along with this.”

Tom HealyArchitect