The Box of Delights, Port Melbourne
Victoria, Australia
An inner-urban family home conceived as a light-filled oasis of delights, shaped by a meandering journey of spaces, integrated landscape and moments of surprise. The architecture responds directly to our clients’ playful, curious spirits, creating a home that is both calming and intriguing.
Our clients, a professional couple with two children, approached Bower Architecture after purchasing a charming but tired Victorian double-fronted weatherboard cottage in their favourite Port Melbourne street. They sought to revitalise the existing house and create a serene, contemporary family home filled with warmth, light and delight.
Through our Client Wishlist and Briefing process, it became clear that the home needed to feel uniquely theirs — defined by a memorable sequence of spaces, rich with moments of joy, curiosity and connection. Landscape was integral to this experience, with views to gardens, spa, city and sky woven throughout the home.
The architectural response is expressed in three key moves.First, a layered street presence comprising the restored original cottage, a glowing central addition clad in painted brick and Danpalon, and a robust rear ‘coach house’ element in recycled brick — referencing the surrounding urban materiality and the clients’ UK memories and heritage.
Second, a carefully choreographed journey through the home that invites curiosity, with long views, framed moments and shifting light. From the front door, sightlines tease what lies beyond, while the stair is animated by a dramatic raking ceiling and light spilling down from a concealed roof garden.
And third, strong indoor–outdoor connections that immerse the home in landscape and seasonal change. Rooms are shaped around three distinct garden spaces, with natural light arriving from above and through playfully positioned windows.
Designed to support both connection and downtime, the home integrates a central spa pool set within a covered garden for relaxation and conversation, a generous kitchen with a sculptural island and banquette seating beneath a long skylight, a north-lit workshop for weekend tinkering, and colourful bathrooms that bring moments of delight throughout the home.
The renovation was specified to transition the home to all electric with significant energy efficiency upgrades to elevate a 1 star NatHERS rating to an over 6 star home. New insulation was added to the retained house and most of the original windows replaced with double glazing. The addition includes thermal mass via the concrete floor and internal brickwork, high performance double glazing, oversized wall cavities to accommodate extra insulation and provision for solar-fed battery storage. Recycled bricks were used, the first floor decking is recycled product and the Danpalon cladding is fully recyclable at end of life.
As every corner reveals delightful and special moments, our clients call their home their “Box of Delights” after a favourite childhood UK TV series.
Traditional owners: the Bunurong Boon Wurrung and the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung peoples, both of the Eastern Kulin
Builder: BD Projects
Planning Consultant: Town Planning & Co
Construction just completed
