Photographs | Nic Granleese
“Most architects would probably run from a tiny, triangular site like this one in Melbourne, Australia. But not OOF! Architecture, who turned a rundown Victorian weatherboard cottage into a compact home”
ACUTE HOUSE
Acute House is the transformation of a 'renovator's nightmare' into a compact 21st century family home. The severe limitations of a tiny, very triangular site and the demanding heritage context have resulted in a pointy new wedge of house that is designed to exploit its problems.
The original, and extremely decrepit, Victorian weatherboard cottage had become impossible to inhabit but was well loved by the neighbourhood as well as its new owners.
We tried to retain its weathered character by re-using as much original fabric as possible from warped weatherboards and fence palings to random accumulations such as door knobs, vents and street numbers. Like fragile museum artefacts, these were carefully removed, labelled, stored and re-installed in their original location on a new mount that not only highlights their charms by contrast but allows the house to live again in a new way.
THIS HOUSE IS FOR
👸 + 🤴 + 👦 + 👶 + 🐕
BEFORE | the original "Renovator's Nightmare" | photo: OOF! architecture
“It’s an innovative amalgamation of old and new that satisfies the project’s heritage requirements and guarantees that the new three-level home... is sympathetic to the local vernacular. A polite, subtle response would never have worked on a wedge-shaped site that’s as prominently positioned as this one. ”
Photograph: Nic Granleese
“Internally, the design is a masterclass in spatial efficiency, with custom joinery, hidden storage, and multi-functional furniture maximizing the compact footprint. Large windows and skylights fill the space with natural light, enhancing the sense of openness... The Acute House proves that bold, efficient, and beautiful design is possible — even on the most challenging urban sites.”
Photograph: Nic Granleese
“Because of the limited space, every corner has been colonized for a useful purpose. “Space mining” is a term the architect uses when describing her approach to designing the house. Even the dog has his own shelf...”
Photograph: Nic Granleese
DESIGN TEAM:
Architect | OOF | Fooi-Ling Khoo
Planning + Heritage | OOF | David Brand
Interior Design | OOF in collaboration with JPILD
Engineer | Mark Hodkinson Consulting Structural Engineers
Building Surveyor: Anthony Middling & Associates
CONSTRUCTION TEAM:
Builder: Mitty & Price Builders | Michael Briese (Builder/Director) Christian Klueter (Foreman)
External Cladding | Advanced Metal Cladding
Windows and Doors | Pickering Joinery
Joiner | TT Cabinets + Design
Steelwork | Redon Forge
Plumber | Innerline Plumbing
Electrician | Warner Electrical
Heating + AC | Marshall's Heating & Air conditioning Pty Ltd
Concrete Polishing | Lumic
AWARDS
City of Port Phillip Design + Development Awards 2018 | AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE | Residential Dwelling
City of Port Phillip Design + Development Awards 2018 | COMMENDATION | Heritage Conservation
Victorian Premier's Design Awards 2016 | WINNER | Architecture
ArchiTeam Awards 2016 | WINNER | Residential Alterations
ArchiTeam Awards 2016 | COMMENDATION | Sustainability
Acute House is proud to be a part of Open House Melbourne 2016
ARTICLES ABOUT ACUTE HOUSE:
Yanko Design | From Decay to Design: How Urban Renewal Plays a Vital Role in Shaping Our Future
Arkitera | Melbourne’da Çarpıcı, Üçgen Formlu Bir Ev
Vertical Living | 2021 | Gestalten | Extreme Site Specific Design
AEC Cafe | Acute House in Melbourne
Archinect | Experimenting in Historic Neighbourhoods
Australia By Design | Ultimate Architectural Statement (TV)
ARCHI-LAB | Volume 1 | Small House
Architect AIA (USA) | Acute House
Urbis | Hot House: The Acute House
TreeHugger | Wedge-shaped Acute House
Casa e Jardim Brasil | Casa Triangular Surpreende
Design Milk | A Jaw-dropping Triangular Shaped House
Green Magazine | Issue 54 | Past + Present
Sveriges Arkitekter | Innovativt aterbruk
Archina | 澳大利亚 Acute House 老房子改造
AD Germany | Messerscharf: Wohnen auf kleinem Raum
Catálogodiseño: visibilidad creativa | Casa Aguda
ArchitectureAU | 2016 Victorian Premier’s Design Awards
The Vocket | Rumah Tirus Ini Mungkin Yang Paling ‘Cool’ Ada...
Curbed | Head-Turning "Acute House"
Gooood | 楔形街角住宅
LunchBox Architect | Transforming a Renovator's Nightmare
Web Urbanist | Against All Odd (Shapes)
New Atlas | Wedge Shaped Family Home
Fubiz | Surprenant Belle Corner House à Melbourne
Inhabitat | No space is too awkward for a home
ArchDaily | The Acute House
Elle Decor Italia | Come Ristrutturare Casa Quando La Pianta È Difficile
Designboom | Wedge Shaped Home
IndesignLive | ArchiTeam's Little Architectural Heroes
Houses Magazine | PDF | Issue 112 | Acute House
That Architecture Student | A Pretty Sharp House
Sydney Morning Herald | A Rare Look Behind Closed Doors
The Herald Sun Home Magazine | Acute Solution for Albert Park Home Design Challenge
IndesignLIVE | Open House Melbourne: Not Just the Weekend
Domain | Houses That Engage With the Street
The Herald Sun | Victoria’s Quirkiest Designer Homes
Re-Thinking the Future | Acute House
MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Please have a look on Bowerbird.io for more information about this project

Acute House | Final photos starting to come through...