Steve's Place

When our long-time friend Steve first approached us, the project began not with a brief, but with a conversation. A handful of sketches soon grew into a shared undertaking shaped by friendship, trust and making.

Having lived in the house for more than five years with his wife and children, Steve understood both its shortcomings and its quiet potential. Rather than expanding outward, the design sought clarity through rearrangement, working within the existing envelope to unlock a more generous way of living and a more resolved relationship to the backyard.

The connection to the garden became the heart of the home. Living spaces were drawn toward the rear of the site, opening to the yard and creating a flexible setting for outdoor life, play and gathering. Bedrooms and service spaces were gathered toward the front, allowing the house to unfold gradually toward light and landscape.

Steve’s craft as a joiner informed the architecture throughout. Carefully considered joinery became both structure and finish: shaping spaces, reducing cost and celebrating the act of making. Built by Steve as owner-builder, with the help of close friends, the project reflects a collective effort: a house shaped by hands as much as by drawings.

Our services included Concept Design, Design Development, Development Application, Construction Certificate, Construction Documentation, and Services During Construction.