At our initial site meeting in Surrey Hills, our new client, Steve, expressed a desire to maximize their outdoor space, stating, “We’d really like more backyard area. I wish we could just move the house forward.” This statement immediately piqued our interest—could such a reconfiguration be feasible? While relocating smaller 'project' homes is not uncommon, the prospect of moving a larger structure on a site with a heritage overlay presented a more complex challenge. Through careful advocacy and collaboration, we were able to convince the local council that this approach would enhance the broader neighborhood context. With the necessary technical expertise, we successfully relocated the house both forward and sideways on the lot, creating a significantly larger and more functional private backyard for the family.

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The original, dilapidated 3-bedroom home lacked any meaningful connection to the small rear yard. The proposed design reoriented the space to foster a harmonious relationship between the interior and exterior, flooding the home with natural light and revitalizing the environment for the family.