Set on a tree-lined street in Victoria’s south-east, Garden House skilfully entwines a stately Victorian dwelling with a contemporary glazed addition, crafting a cohesive, sanctuary-like family home connected to its established gardens. With a vision to create harmony between old and new, McCluskey Studio embraced a philosophy of ‘understated opulence,’ expressed as a conceptual throughline in the project’s deft planning, interior forms, textural material palette and fine detailing.

Former incongruous additions are replaced with a double height glazed ‘box’ that echoes the heritage home’s lofty proportions. Minimalist and light-filled, the addition effortlessly complements the original house. Thoughtful repetition of materials, finishes and forms effectively binds together old and new, delivering a cohesive home that feels elegant yet unassuming, detailed yet calming. Subtle accents reappear in different contexts to foster spatial linkages, consistently underscored by warmth and tactility to create oasis-like living spaces.