When a house mullet is done well, they’re pretty great. Not every architect is able to successfully merge a traditional front facade with a modern back but Finnis Architects does it brilliantly, as seen in the Brace House. The Victorian terrace home, located in Albert Park, Melbourne, Australia, celebrates its original architectural style by embracing its heritage front while transitioning the rest of the house into a contemporary residence for modern living.

The front facade was the only part of original structure to remain with concrete columns and beams installed to support it and the new portion of the house.

Around the back, the exterior is clad in dark zinc and render, which contrasts the lighter wood fence, travertine pavers, and bright blue of the pool.
Since the residence is built within a string of row houses, it was imperative to create ways to incorporate natural light. In the center of the Brace House is a three-story void that filters light through all of the levels. The custom staircase winds its way up around the void as 40 pendants hang in the middle at various heights.

Since the footprint couldn’t be extended, they added mezzanines and half levels to increase space and make the home feel larger.

Photos by Tom Roe.

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