Palmerston Lane House
Architect
Annelise Porter, Principal Design Architect
Startari, Technical Documentation
Kim Tiller, Contract Manager
Jonas Construction, Constructor
Client
Private
Area
400 m2
Consultancy Service Scope
Preliminary & Detailed Design, Contract
Administration / Construction
Contract period
2018-2021
Nestled at the end of a charming inner-city Melbourne laneway, Lanes End seamlessly blends the elegance of its Victorian heritage façade with a striking contemporary extension revealed only upon arrival. This home embraces flexibility, fine craftsmanship, and thoughtful design, employing climate-responsive principles and materials that are locally sourced, repurposed, or recycled.
The unique double-width site provides distinct entrances: one for the home office and another leading to the residential garden, while a concealed car stacker and basement workshop maximise outdoor space. Designed as a three-storey, multigenerational home, the first level offers a self-contained living area with its own street-facing entrance, ensuring adaptability for evolving family needs.
Every level enjoys a close connection to the garden, with integrated window planter boxes that enhance building performance and create a peaceful urban escape. Repurposed materials contribute to a layered, authentic aesthetic—timber beams are reimagined as bespoke joinery, reclaimed floorboards line the ceilings, and bluestone pitchers form elegant garden borders.
At the heart of the home lies a sculptural staircase that connects heritage and modern elements. Featuring oversized treads and integrated storage, it offers both function and artistic form. The façade is distinguished by fine finger-joint timber detailing, a tribute to traditional craftsmanship reflected again in the waterfall edge of the kitchen countertop.
Sustainability is woven throughout the design. Thermal energy stored in the basement moderates indoor temperatures, working alongside cross-ventilation to optimise comfort. The interior cultivates a calm ambience while minimising echoes from hard surfaces. Certified, locally sourced timber enhances ecological integrity, and thoughtful water-saving fixtures, rainwater harvesting systems, energy recovery units, and a 15kW solar array significantly reduce the home’s environmental footprint.
Lanes End is not just a home—it is a harmonious dialogue between past and present, celebrating design, sustainability, and adaptability.
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The studioMilou&Porter team