Terrace House

Austin Maynard Architects

Terrace House is an ethical, beautifully-designed, highly sustainable and 100 per cent fossil fuel free building in Melbourne. Terrace House takes a revolutionary approach to housing and delivers community-focused, environmentally, socially and financially sustainable homes that are robust and resilient in the face of the growing climate crisis.

Located on a busy high street, close to all amenities, the building comprises 20, (two and three bedroom residences, with 55 bike parks and three commercial spaces. Intended as owner-occupier, Terrace House is the re-imagining of a former inner-city suburban life, where rows of worker’s cottages generated a close community. Shared childminding, communal gardens, neighbourly lending and borrowing – these ideals are the basis of Terrace House. These are not apartments but terrace houses, stacked six storeys high.

The average Australian home measures 233 square metres and is, typically poorly designed, high maintenance and inefficient in terms of space and energy. By contrast, small inner-city apartment buildings seek to maximise returns. Responding to the unique site (a long block measuring 10 metres by 57 metres) the design emulates traditional terrace house plans – homes with big external outlooks, a front verandah, a study and a shared ‘backyard’ on the roof.

Multi-residential buildings are required to achieve 6 stars, within the Australian building code certification method. Terrace House is 8.1. Internationally equivalent to a 6-star Green Star rating (considered world leading) and ‘Platinum’ LEED and BREEAM ‘Outstanding’ classification.

Photography by Derek Swalwell. Maitreya Chandorka (see individual image credits)

Dissections
Lighting: Clipsal, Ambience Lighting. Fittings & Fixtures: Sussex. Fisher & Paykel.