Austin Maynard Architects
(est. 2002, Melbourne)

Uninhibited by building type, Austin Maynard Architects operates predominantly in the residential, retail and commercial realms, with a special interest in deliberative design, sustainability and experimentation.

Completed in 2019, the RaeRae House is one of Austin Maynard Architects’ most celebrated residential projects. When the owners of a single-fronted terrace in North Fitzroy were preparing to renovate and extend their home, the dilapidated house next door came up for sale. Structurally unsound, the house needed to be demolished; however, a heritage overlay dictated that the street frontages of both homes must remain. Austin Maynard Architects was engaged to combine the neighbouring properties and create a responsive, contextual and strategic five-bedroom family home that is at once functional and instilled with moments of nuance and discovery.

Set back between the heritage buildings, a glazed entry and front garden unite the two structures. With a sharp, mountain- like brick and timber exterior, the RaeRae House enjoys a diverse, pragmatic materiality with the added benefit of a patterned aesthetic. Inside, thoughtful interior architecture allows for both private and communal living and sleeping areas, as well as a combination of creative and quiet spaces brought to life bythe residents. This versatility was a core part of the original brief, which called for a multifunctional space future-proofed for a young and growing family. This is further exemplified by the property’s garage, designed and fully insulated to allow for future use as a bedroom or self-contained studio.

Originally founded in 2002 as Andrew Maynard Architects, in 2016 the practice became Austin Maynard Architects to reflect the longstanding contributions of practice co-director Mark Austin as well as those of founder Andrew Maynard. RaeRae House won the Award for Residential Architecture – Houses (Alterations and Additions) category at the Australian Institute of Architects’ 2020 Victorian Architecture Awards, with the jury stating: ‘RaeRae House is a rationally executed project providing diverse opportunities for work, play and rest while addressing larger issues of scale, amenity, and diversity’. It was also highly commended in the same category at the 2020 National Architecture Awards, and was awarded Best Project 2021 by Archilovers.