Inner-city hidden gems

Talk about a tricky site.

Formerly the rear yard of the house, this steeply sloping postage stamp lot is bounded by Fitzroy Place on one side, and multi-level townhouses on the remaining sides. A block of flats opposite added to the privacy issues too and from the site.

With a large walnut tree occupying the lower portion of the site, achieving development on the site required careful design and planning.

Utilising the fill width of the site from boundary to boundary and stacking floor plates over three levels, two compact three level co-joined townhouses are accommodated.

Also utilising the slope to facilitate undercroft parking, the floor level above opens onto a protected ground level courtyard living space to the rear. The stairwell acts as a light well, transferring daylight down from above and the upper level houses three modest bedrooms.

Front balconies have a treehouse character with veiled views to Sandy Bay beyond.

The result achieved surpassed expectations such that one of the townhouses is now occupied by the owners to enjoy for themselves.