South Melbourne Terrace, South Melbourne

Crafting Comfort: How Healey Ryan Architects Brought Light and Life to a Victorian Terrace

In the heart of South Melbourne, a traditional terrace has been sensitively transformed by Healey Ryan Architects into a light-filled, efficient, and beautifully detailed family residence. The project demonstrates how thoughtful architectural intervention can balance the demands of modern urban living with a deep respect for heritage context.

GALLERY  

The homeowners came to Healey Ryan Architects with a clear intent: to unify a previously disjointed series of living, kitchen, and dining areas and bring in more natural light. Tom Healey, director at Healey Ryan Architects, explains: “The original layout was split across different levels, and these areas felt disconnected and dark. Our aim was to create a cohesive space filled with light.”

To resolve the spatial disconnect, the design team levelled the rear living areas to create a continuous, open zone, significantly improving flow and natural light penetration. “We also introduced a two-story light shaft above the kitchen,” he adds. “This feature brings natural light over the kitchen bench and into the upstairs bathroom, connecting the spaces visually and spatially.”

A focus on space efficiency underpins the design. A multifunctional centrepiece merges the dining table and kitchen island, maximising utility and openness. “This approach maximised the sense of openness,” says Healey. “We designed the perimeter kitchen bench to taper down, creating an elegant surface for objects in the dining area.”

Upstairs, strategic planning enabled expanded children’s bedrooms and a redesigned bathroom, reinforcing the home’s functional brief while maintaining visual harmony.

The rear façade is a refined architectural expression of the home’s dual identity—anchored in heritage but forward-looking in form. Hand-laid red bricks with matching mortar are paired with a red steel eave and custom perforated shutters. “We wanted the facade to feel like a monolithic extension of the home’s Victorian heritage,” says Healey. “But the closer you look, the more you see the level of craftsmanship and detail.”

These carefully selected materials provide both visual and tactile contrast. “The design marries traditional materials with contemporary elements,” he adds. “This contrast makes the rear of the home feel both timeless and forward-thinking.”

The bold red tones unify the overall design language. “It’s a bold colour choice,” Healey acknowledges, “But it works beautifully to tie together the handmade and modern aspects of the facade.”

Selecting Sun Shading

The extensive glazing at the rear of the house required careful planning to manage sunlight while maintaining comfort and preserving views. “Sun shading was essential, not just for performance but as an integral part of the design,” says Healey.

Healey Ryan Architects worked closely with Shade Factor to develop innovative shading solutions tailored to the project’s unique requirements. “We needed devices that performed their function without compromising the clean lines of the design,” he explains.

A retractable Terrea K50 folding arm awning by Warema was integrated into the brickwork, recessed and nearly invisible when not in use. “It extends only when needed,” notes Healey, “and its sleek design complements the facade perfectly.”

For the upper-floor windows, custom perforated steel shutters were designed as a nod to traditional plantation shutters. “These had to be operable, discreet, and able to handle wind conditions,” says Healey. “Shade Factor engineered a solution that met these challenges. The actuators are hidden inside the shutters, allowing for minimal visual impact.”

These shading solutions ensure thermal comfort and enhance the home’s aesthetic. “Shade Factor’s products create a dialogue between the handmade quality of the bricks and the advanced technology of the shutters and awning,” reflects Healey.

Architect: Healey Ryan Architects
Builder: Yarrabank Builders
Photographer: Dan Preston
Stylist: Elizabeth Bird

Specified Products:

• Warema Terrea K50 cassette folding arm awning with valance

• Custom actuators and controls

• Curtain track system

Find out more.

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