An Edwardian Melbourne residence extended by Adam Kane Architects with a light-filled addition, a helical stair, and a cantilevered master wing

Brighton House extends an existing Edwardian residence in Melbourne's Brighton, with Adam Kane Architects working to match the scale and proportion of the original home while opening it toward an open, light-filled addition. The site itself is generous, and the design uses that space to strengthen the connection between the house and the surrounding landscape as a core part of how the home functions day to day.

A series of linear moves runs through the plan, reinforcing clarity and a consistent sense of calm. Wide, full-scale glazing frames uninterrupted views out toward the surrounding landscape while still maintaining privacy from neighboring properties. Wide corridors connect the rooms, giving the house an unhurried sense of movement between spaces. Below ground, an 8-car garage is excavated and tucked out of view, with discreet access running up from underneath the home.

Moving upward through the house, a custom cellar, gym, and golf simulation room sit along the route between levels. The original street entry and its heritage details are retained, marking a clear but considered shift from the crafted, artisanal character of the existing house into the more contemporary expression of the new addition. Views are established and reinforced throughout: between internal rooms, and on the upper level, out toward the water and the wider cityscape.

A consistent light palette unifies both eras of the house. Muted American oak flooring runs throughout as a warming material constant, while concealed joinery hides amenity and shapes the internal volumes without visual clutter. Polished plaster covers walls and ceilings, catching and reflecting light as it shifts through the day, and white aggregate concrete flooring runs continuously between interior and exterior, dissolving the threshold between the two. A helical stair forms the project's central sculptural element, connecting all levels and marking the transition point between the original house and the new addition. An additional level is tucked into the original attic space, with the master wing cantilevering out above the living spaces below.