Plants are expected to grow up the sides of this treehouse-inspired house extension in Melbourne, by AM Architecture.
The two-storey South Yarra House extension creates a new master bedroom and living spaces for a heritage cottage close to the Yarra River.

Clad in copper, the top half of the structure is designed to look like a treehouse. Meanwhile the base, surrounded by a black lattice frame, is designed to become part of the garden.
As climbing plants continue to grow up the building's sides, it will become more and more concealed in the greenery.

"The aim for South Yarra House is to create a place that is both wonderful to inhabit, and one that resonates with its unique context, reinforcing an already strong sense of place," explained AM Architecture founder Andrew Mellios. "The client brief was to take in the lofty views, regulate privacy on site, and above all create a tree house."

The extension doubles the size of the original cottage. It creates a spacious new kitchen and dining room on the ground floor, freeing up space in the original property for a study.
Upstairs, the master en-suite becomes a third bedroom for the house. There is also a new family bathroom on this floor, as the original bathroom has become a laundry room.

AM Architecture chose copper for the exterior, to match the tones of the property's historic brickwork. But over time, as it patinates, it will take on turquoise hues that match the colour of furniture inside the house...