Cubby Office

Location: North Melbourne

Status: Completed in 2016

New double-storey studio garage at rear of house.

Blurring the line between work and home life is exactly the desire behind this project. We aim to bring together the seriousness of work with the playfulness of our children, thus the Cubby Office, which allows us to monitor and connect with the kids during working hours.

It is made possible by the perforated metal sheet which is used as the floor for the upper level. It serves as the element of surprise and playfulness -which identify it as the cubby space. It achieves both aesthetic and functional purpose; the translucent floor creates a feeling of soaring high ceiling for the otherwise tight space, and allows a more efficient use of lighting and energy, whether it’s the heat coming from the ground floor or the cool air from the air conditioning on the upper floor.

Surprise and playfulness continue to be the theme for this construction even to the functional part. Every nook and cranny is maximised as storage with shadow lines as a handle, giving them the illusion of being secretive. Out and above, there is the “secret” deck, meant to replace the outdoor courtyard where the Cubby Office now stands. The unassuming space takes advantage of the vantage point to city skyline where the family can enjoy the unobstructed views of New Year’s Eve fireworks and celebrate the alliance of their work and home life.

Photo credit: Nic Granleese