Studio Miles

After more than 20 years in their red-brick semi-detached home, our clients approached us to reimagine how their house and site could better support a new phase of family life. With their children now young adults, the brief called for additional space that could accommodate study, short-term stays during interstate travel, and evolving patterns of multigenerational living.

Rather than a single-purpose addition, the project required a highly adaptable environment. The proposed studio was designed as a multifunctional space that could operate independently as a private retreat for the children, a recreational area, or guest accommodation, while also having the capacity to become the clients’ primary living space in the future. Flexibility was central to the design: mobile joinery on concealed wheels allows the interior to be reconfigured as needs change, while provision has been made for fixed joinery to be introduced when the studio transitions into a permanent dwelling. A largely open-plan layout is complemented by large sliding doors, enabling the space to be divided or opened up as required for privacy and varied uses.

The existing house sits close to the street on a long, narrow block, leaving a substantial and underutilised backyard. Early site analysis revealed that a detached studio at the rear of the site would better unlock the potential of the property than a conventional extension. By carefully limiting the studio footprint to 36m², the project was able to proceed under a Complying Development Certificate, significantly streamlining the approvals process and allowing construction to commence sooner. The result is a modest yet highly versatile addition that enhances both the functionality of the home and the overall use of the site.