Shape Building Design Project 2

A SUBURBAN OASIS

This project sits quietly in one of Ballarat’s leafiest heritage streets. The front is a classic old Bungalow – beautiful as it is – so Shape Building Design has left it untouched, giving it only a few modern comforts inside with the addition of a new powder room and study space. All the fun happens out the back: a new open-plan kitchen, dining and living area opening into the alfresco, a new upper-floor master suite with dressing room and generous en suite, plus a new garage.

From the street, you can only catch a glimpse of the setback Krause brick garage and the charcoal standing-seam forms tucked neatly along the rear boundary. It’s discreet, clean, and sharp. Inside, the home opens with a warm, passive feel. It’s designed to chase the sun through the day, with high windows pulling natural light deep into the living spaces above the new garage. The interior brings a semi-industrial vibe: burnished heated concrete floors, steel windows and detailing, steel balustrading, natural stone, a sculptural limestone island, dark timber veneers, a hidden cocktail bar, and a cracking wood fire. Outside, rich timber ceilings flow under the eaves to keep the warmth and texture running through.

The clients are young, fit, hard-working professionals who know what they like: clean lines, honest materials, and a home that can switch from “work mode” to “party out the back” without missing a beat.