- Project: Local House
- Architect: Studio Bright
- Location: Australia, Saint Kilda
- Year: 2014
- Photography: Peter Bennetts
In the heart of Saint Kilda, Local House by Studio Bright redefines what it means to extend and inhabit a suburban Australian home. Designed for a vibrant, community-minded family, the renovation departs from the generic “white box on the back” solution, instead offering a dynamic spatial experience with a strong focus on social sustainability, robustness, and joyful living.
Architecture That Feels Like a Café
Inspired by the client’s lifestyle and desire for openness, the design blurs the line between private and public space. Interiors are conceived more like a local café than a typical residence—with writable walls, community zones, and spatial gestures that encourage interaction and celebration of daily life.
The original Californian Bungalow remains intact, serving as a historical anchor. A striking new gable-roofed two-storey volume is added to the rear, offset from the boundary to allow light penetration and garden connection.
“The kitchen and dining area open entirely to the backyard,” says the design team. “It feels more like a garden pavilion than an interior room.”
Grounded in Concrete, Elevated in Timber
The project uses off-form concrete as its base—inside and out. This weighty material defines benches, seating, and surfaces that can withstand the bustle of family life. Above, a decorative timber screen cloaks the gabled upper level, softening the concrete’s mass while shielding views and controlling sun exposure.
This timber detail—both functional and sculptural—houses the main bedroom and offers distant views across rooftops while ensuring privacy.
Designed for Family, Built for Community
A central feature of the home is its community-facing rear. Far from being a neglected back-of-house zone, it is treated as a second front, with a multipurpose studio garage engaging directly with the laneway. Visibility extends through the studio to the main house, enhancing connection. A concrete laneway seat continues into the garage joinery, and bluestone paving bridges the transition from public to private.
“We want our projects to positively contribute to the community. Here, we’ve activated the laneway with a desk, operable window, porch, and seating—inviting connection rather than retreat.”
Moments of Delight in Everyday Use
The design celebrates ordinary life with extraordinary details. From concrete joinery that doubles as seating to staircases acting as both spatial dividers and bookshelves, every corner invites interaction. Bright yellow tiles in the ensuite and kitchen joinery add a dash of playfulness. Recycled fence palings used in concrete formwork lend texture and storytelling to the walls.
These elements are not precious—they are lived in, durable, and designed to age gracefully.
More Than A Home: A Framework for Social Living
Studio Bright’s Local House is not just an architectural extension—it’s a redefinition of suburban domesticity. It celebrates connection—within the home and beyond it—proving that family life can be robust, beautiful, and deeply rooted in community and place.
