Escargot

Modern open-concept living area with natural light for Escargot.

Conceived for a family returning to Australia after years spent overseas, this design reimagines a tiny Victorian terrace house in Carlton as a multi-level, multi-generational home

Unbuilt
Carlton, Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung Land

Site area

183m²

Bedrooms

3

Bathrooms

3

Our design approach was to deliver a built form that would provide the desired level of space and amenity, allow for as much natural light as possible and provide a unique space for family living.

Street view with construction scene and vehicles, part of Escargot initiative.

Bound between its neighbours, the existing site is a petite 80 square metres. Any intervention would have to leverage the whole of the site to make the project feasible.

"Escargot architectural design featuring geometric patterns and structural diagrams."
Modern architectural design with white facades in Escargot, showcasing sleek urban aesthetics.
Modern architectural design featuring brick and glass elements in the Escargot project.
Modern open-concept living area with natural light for Escargot.
Modern living and dining space with natural light in Escargot project.
Modern kitchen design with skylight and minimalistic elements from the Escargot initiative.
Modern kitchen with skylight and balcony in the Escargot design.
Modern kitchen design with skylight, part of Escargot, featuring wood cabinets and marble countertops.
Modern living room interior with brick wall and sunlight, part of Escargot.
Modern bedroom design with white brick walls and large windows from Escargot project.
Black and white illustration of a stylized snail, part of "Escargot".
Modern pink-tiled bathroom design from Escargot, featuring minimalist fixtures and a round mirror.
Modern bathroom design with gray tiles from Escargot.
Modern living room interior from Escargot featuring a red sofa and abstract art.
Modern living room design with red sofa and geometric decor in Escargot.

A neutral interior has been designed to extract maximum impact from natural light throughout the home, with colour and texture introduced through timber, tiles, and soft furnishings. The original front room of the terrace however, features a dark colour palette to highlight the period details, while creating the feeling of passage into the bright contemporary home beyond.

Cozy modern living room with dark walls and bookshelves from Escargot.
  • Isometric architectural drawing of a long, narrow building with a slanted roof and skylights.
    Isometric architectural design of a modern building with geometric roof and circular feature.

The design meets an ambitious brief despite the significant constraints of a stringent heritage overlay and diminutive site. It’s a sophisticated solution to a challenging puzzle, one that promises to deliver a highly refined inner-city lifestyle for its owners.

  • Hand-drawn cartoon snail from Escargot, featuring a detailed shell and expressive eyes.
  • Diagram of a snail shell from the Escargot project, showing detailed measurements.
  • Archaeological plan of the Escargot excavation site layout with detailed grid markings.
  • "Escargot design features geometric patterns and linear elements in a technical drawing."

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