At 110-square-metres, Canning Street showcases the beauty and benefits of small-footprint living. It’s simple, lean and tidy, with calm, relaxing and light-filled spaces for family life and entertaining. Northern light filters inside through a tall glass facade that opens to the courtyard, while high-level reeded glass and an enclosed garden bring in natural light on the eastern side. The children’s bedrooms are downstairs, and the parents upstairs, and the kitchen, dining and lounge are in a long and narrow volume. 

A large, simple design gesture – a curved ceiling – creates different spatial experiences as it sweeps down from the lounge to the dining area and pitches upward over the kitchen. Timber columns along the eastern wall frame joinery and functions – study, laundry, pantry, courtyard, record player, television and fireplace – which provide clarity to the plan, rhythm to the building and a clear framework for the family to organise their lives and belongings.

Animation
Foomannimation by Isobel Knowles

Solar Access
Northern light filters into the living area through a tall glass facade with oversized doors that open to the courtyard. High-level reeded glass brings in natural light on the eastern side. 

Brief
Canning Street is the home of serial renovators Josh and Jenna Densten, designers and former contestants on The Block, and their two children. The couple engaged Foomann to design a new freestanding house behind their tiny 32-square-metre worker’s cottage in North Melbourne. 

Structure and Rhythm
Timber columns along the eastern wall frame joinery and functions – fireplace, television, record player, courtyard, panty, laundry, study – which provide clarity to the plan, rhythm to the building and a clear framework for the family to organise their lives and belongings.

Curves
The ceiling is a large, simple design gesture that creates a variety of spatial experiences, as it sweeps down over the lounge to the more intimate dining area, before pitching upward from the kitchen to first-floor landing, where a narrow skylight at the apex creates a play of light. Curves speak to the client’s desire for soft lines and calming, cohesive spaces.

Finishes
The client, Jenna, drove the selection of materials, choosing neutral colours, textures and timber to create calming spaces and a cohesive atmosphere.

Light and Transparency
Clear glass provides the view of treetops into Josh and Jenna’s bedroom upstairs, while reeded glass provides privacy.