Design firm: Office MI—JI
Project name: A Light Addition
Location: St.Kilda East Victoria, Australia
Dimensions: 166 sqm

The design of this house in Australia is unambiguous: the extension designed by Office MI—JI to expand the existing building clearly distinguishes the two construction phases by employing a different architectural language. Supported by the original building, the box-shaped structure is mounted on a steel frame and arranged around a patio. It branches out into spaces housing the family's bedrooms and bathrooms, which have been added since the house was purchased. The design increases the space by developing upwards without exceeding the ground floor's footprint and clearly signals its presence. The placement of the openings and the alternation between clear and patterned glass reflect the relationship between light and privacy. Inside the block, everything is designed to measure: the volumes and surfaces allow the materials to speak for themselves, creating a sequence of textures — from wood to steel to glass — which are the true protagonists of the interiors, which contain very few 'nomadic' furnishings. An open staircase starting from the kitchen links the new space to the existing one, echoing its materials.