Reimagining Heritage with Joy: A House to Gather

Federation-era homes, with their finely wrought ornamentation and iconic domestic silhouettes, are an enduring feature of Australia’s suburban landscapes. Yet, for all their charm, these homes often struggle to align with modern lifestyle preferences—demanding light, openness, and fluid indoor–outdoor connection.

Enter Sibling Architecture, whose intensely considered, joyfully executed transformation of a narrow Melbourne Federation house—known as A House to Gather—offers a compelling model for future-facing adaptation. This project marries heritage preservation with spatial experimentation, demonstrating how architecture can serve both legacy and lifestyle.

Understanding the Federation Home: Historical Context

The Federation style emerged in Australia between 1890 and 1915, reflecting the nation’s growing identity and independence. These homes are celebrated for their restorative details: red-brick facades, sweeping verandahs with decorative timber fretwork, complex gable and hipped roof forms, stained glass, and patterned terracotta tiles.

However, the legacy of a compartmentalized internal layout persists. Rooms are often isolated, corridors narrow, and natural light limited—conditions that conflict with contemporary desires for open-plan living, fluid movement, and dialogue with the outdoors. Sibling Architecture’s response is neither demolition nor mimicry, but a thoughtful conversation between eras.

Sibling Architecture’s Conceptual Ethos

Known for their research-driven and collaborative approach, Sibling Architecture challenges norms by inserting elements of delight and surprise into daily life. Their ethos is rooted in the belief that spaces should engage the senses, elevate the ordinary, and foster connection. In A House to Gather, these values manifest through intervention, materiality, and reimagined occupation.

The home’s renovation prioritizes contemporary family dynamics—flexible zones, opportunities for social interaction, and a deepened relationship to its site. But crucially, it also maintains deep respect for its Federation heritage, ensuring the design response is additive, not erasing.

Key Design Techniques and Interventions

The project’s power lies in the balance between preservation and playful transformation. Below, we unpack the strategies that define this sensitive yet spirited renovation.

1. Indoor–Outdoor Connection

One of the biggest interventions occurs at the rear of the dwelling, where the original floorplan is reconfigured to open onto a deck and garden. This transition is critical in the Australian context, where climate and culture promote blending indoor living with outdoor environments.

The threshold between house and yard is managed with minimal obstructions, enabling a free flow between spaces. The new gathering area extends visually and physically through generous openings that frame greenery and sky.

2. Playful Material Palette

Materiality is central to the sensory richness of the renovation. The use of glass block walls introduces a retro-modern aesthetic while filtering natural daylight into internal spaces. This dappled light adds spatial drama and texture, recalling mid-century modernist design.

The deliberately juxtaposed creamy brickwork subtly honors the original red brick while introducing a contemporary language. These materials speak to both continuity and contrast—integral to successful heritage adaptations.

3. Preservation Meets Delineation

Rather than blur historical and contemporary elements, A House to Gather delineates old and new clearly. The existing Federation façade, decorative cornices, and front rooms are meticulously preserved. Behind this, newer elements stake a claim without imitating the original.

This architectural honesty—allowing different eras to sit side by side—respects both the integrity of the past and the aspirations of the present.

4. Spatial Flexibility and Function

Within a compressed 158m² site (with a mere 120m² building area), efficient programming becomes essential. Sibling achieves this by layering spaces for versatility: rooms serve multiple functions, boundaries remain fluid, and social interaction is choreographed through form.

Varied ceiling heights and material transitions demarcate zones without enclosing them. This expands the perception of space and allows the house to respond dynamically to everyday needs—be it entertaining, working, or resting.

5. Intensified Experience Within a Compact Footprint

Despite the small scale, the home feels expansive thanks to meticulous detailing and an emphasis on experiential design. Color punctuations, natural textures, and curated views transform limitations into opportunities for delight.

Technical Overview

• Site Area: 158 m²
• Total Building Area: 120 m²
• Builder: V Haus
• Structural Engineer: Panthom Engineering
• Landscape Architect: Flowerspike
• Design & Documentation Timeline: 18 months
• Construction Period: 9 months

Structural interventions were precise and minimally invasive, preserving the original envelope while reorienting the home’s rear toward better garden access and light. Supporting disciplines played key roles, particularly landscape integration which reinforces the connection between built form and natural surrounds.

Heritage Adaptation in Comparative Context

A House to Gather epitomizes an emerging Australian model: bold reinterpretation grounded in respect. This balance reflects international patterns in heritage renovation:

While London terrace renovations and Canadian infill projects similarly juxtapose glass and steel with masonry shells, Sibling Architecture’s approach is distinguished by its lighthearted sophistication—embedding joy within heritage frames.

Lessons for Architects, Designers, and Homeowners

A House to Gather offers critical insights for those navigating the complexities of updating heritage homes:

• Embrace contrast: Heritage doesn’t demand replication. New insertions should respect—but not mimic—original forms.
• Material choice is narrative: Use color, texture, and transparency—like glass blocks or muted bricks—to inject personality while addressing environmental needs.
• Optimize every square meter: Layered programming and spatial clarity are essential in compact sites. Think in terms of flow, not square footage.
• Connection is key: Prioritize visual and physical access to outdoor areas. This enhances daily wellbeing and expands perceived space.
• Joy matters: Design that incorporates unexpected delight enhances not just form and function, but quality of life.

Conclusion: Reclaiming Heritage with Innovation

Sibling Architecture’s renovation of this Melbourne Federation house doesn’t just update a building—it reanchors it in the rhythms and rituals of contemporary life. By merging historic narrative with future-facing design, A House to Gather exemplifies how architects can revitalize heritage housing stock while enriching the lived experience.

For architects, builders, and homeowners alike, it stands as a luminous example of how thoughtful renovation can preserve character, create delight, and boldly embrace change—without losing sight of place.