Fitzroy Street Residence | $750k | Constructed 2024
Positioned on the outskirts of the city, Fitzroy Street Residence materialised over three years of discussion, three years exploring options, close to a year securing a Development Approval, two years documentation and four years of construction. The design approach is an adaption of the ‘courtyard house’ typology, which is typically an inwards focused model. The living spaces are clustered on ground level at the rear of the property facing into an east aspect courtyard whilst the house’s upper level massing and balcony address the streetscape generating streetscape interactivity
Upper level openings are positioned to capture north light whilst also framing glimpses of the CBD and adjacent Robertson Park. Compact sites often require pragmatic forms generated by functional aspects such as channelling the flow of water. The upper level roof pitches towards the middle of the site draining onto the lower roof pitching down towards the courtyard. Custom folded aluminium canopies shade the upper level windows and entrance whilst the balcony balustrading as well as planter fencing also utilise folded aluminium. The project also showcases the versatility of brick, used both externally and internally. Dark face brick is employed as a textural and contextual material at lower level grounding the form whilst a contemporary white brick with playful corbelled detailing floats over. The white brick planter located on the footpath generates an interplay of light and dark materiality and provides a level of visual interest on the streetscape. Internal feature walls, the island bench up-stand, garage, balcony and courtyard floor surfaces also use brick in varying formats.
Fitzroy Street Residence illustrates a strategically designed three bedroom plus study house with a generous courtyard is achievable on a compact 275sqm inner city block.
