Redefining the Suburban Paradigm - The Matraville House by Tzannes Architects

To achieve this, the clients’ brief states for the parents’ bedroom, ensuite, and wardrobe to be situated on the ground floor so that they can occupy one level only. The remaining bedrooms are on the second floor, east-facing along with a shared bathroom, study, and a second living room — all in which, when combined enable multi-generational living in the Matraville House.

“We set out to redefine the suburban paradigm with a design that provides the best possible amenity”.

A modern living and dining room was designed and located to gain maximum leverage of the existing garden with a new internal courtyard incorporated to the north of the house to provide direct sunlight in the mid-winter. These areas of the home were to establish public and communal zones for the family while at the same time providing exclusive and separate areas of the home where one can escape. ‘Our clients love living in this house’ says Mladen. He further expresses ‘so many different zones to escape to, and all of them are light and airy.’

At the inception of the project, it was somewhat challenging for Tzannes Architects to provide multi-generational living with the pre-existing home. It was considered ‘unworkable’ due to the rigid, inconsistent layout. This layout meant that the levels of space, flexibility, comfort, luxury, and solar access could not be achieved. Therefore, after careful consideration, Tzannes Architects decided to rebuild and only retain the existing pool and garden at the rear of the house, becoming the new focal point of the project.

Tzannes Architects response to the design brief enables multi-generational living in the Matraville House.

Asked about their design philosophy in relation to the Matraville House and achieving a home that caters for so many people, ‘our design process is above all a collaborative one’ says Mladen. ‘We work closely with each other, and with the other professionals who will make the building a reality.’ Tzannes Architects believe that each project is considered unique and is a response to its specific site, context, and brief. For most projects, the research-based design process focuses on the relationship between the building, its setting and its function.

For the Matraville House, the relationship with other disciplines was also fundamental in ensuring the clients’ brief and budget were met in a timely and well-considered manner. Tzannes Architects worked closely with their builder, led by Angel Rumeliotis, to enhance the structure and select materials and techniques that provided for adaptive, cost-effective and at times innovative and cutting-edge solutions for a successful outcome for both the builders, Tzannes Architects, and all members of the family.

A modern living and dining room was designed and located to gain maximum leverage of the existing garden with a new internal courtyard incorporated to the north of the house to provide direct sunlight in the mid-winter.

The primary consideration for the Matraville House was enabling comfortable inter-generational living, while at the same time wanting to create and design a house that was ‘polite to its neighbours.’ ‘Respectful for their privacy and amenity, yet [ it is a building] that makes a statement that good design does matter,’ says Mladen. In the Matraville House, Mladen Prnjatovic and the team at Tzannes Architects truly re-imagined the suburban ‘dream’, exploring techniques of multi-generational living for the many generations of inhabitants.

For the Matraville House, the relationship with other disciplines was also fundamental in ensuring the clients’ brief and budget were met in a timely and well-considered manner.

In the Matraville House, Mladen Prnjatovic and the team at Tzannes Architects truly re-imagined the suburban ‘dream’, exploring techniques of multi-generational living for the many generations of inhabitants.