This townhouse occupies the site of former Victorian stables in Melbourne’s iconic Princes Hill, creating a flexible multigenerational home that shares landscaped courtyards with the original heritage cottage. Designed primarily for a retired couple, the dwelling adapts easily for visiting family, offering independence while maintaining close connection.

The design emphasises openness and light: long sightlines run north–south across rooftops, while high ceilings and skylights bring natural light deep into the interiors. Timber cladding, native landscaping, and tonal finishes establish a calm, tactile environment that contrasts with the intensity of its urban setting.

Facing directly onto the laneway, the townhouse celebrates its context with a permeable timber-batten façade, while a robust masonry spine and fine steel detailing ground the building in its heritage streetscape. Inside, custom timber joinery conceals services, creating uncluttered, flexible spaces for living, working, and entertaining.

The result is an inner-city refuge, on that is sustainable, adaptable, and deeply connected to family and community.