Parkside Home by Austin Maynard Architects: A Sustainable, Aging-in-Place Retreat in Fitzroy North

Parkside Home is a thoughtfully designed, environmentally adaptable residence created by Austin Maynard Architects for owners planning to age in place. Completed in 2024 in Fitzroy North, Melbourne, the compact 148 m² two-storey home transforms the rear of a long Victorian block into a future-ready sanctuary—enabling the owners to downsize without leaving the community they love.

A Sustainable Vision for Aging in Place

Parkside Home was conceived as part of a long-term retirement strategy. Instead of leaving their beloved neighborhood, the owners opted to build a second dwelling on their deep 50-meter site—an increasingly relevant solution for retirees seeking smaller footprints, reduced living costs, and improved environmental performance.

Research in both the US and Australia indicates that many older homeowners want to stay connected to familiar streets, routines, and social networks. Parkside embodies this desire, offering a compact yet highly efficient home that supports independence while contributing to gentle inner-city densification.

A Heritage Street with a Future-Focused Response

Although situated on a heritage-protected street, Parkside proposes a model for sustainable urban living that aligns with increasing density goals without compromising local character. The architects took great care to design a house that is resilient, efficient, and respectful—prioritizing materials, form, and detailing that blend into the established context while offering a distinctly contemporary lifestyle.

A Home Designed Around Light, Flexibility, and Environmental Control

One of Parkside’s defining strategies is its sophisticated approach to light, ventilation, and privacy. The front façade is composed of a rhythmic sequence of full-height modules:

• fixed timber panels
• fixed glass panels
• operable timber screens

Each panel is identical in dimension and arranged in an alternating pattern, giving the façade a balanced visual harmony. Behind the operable screens, windows open to encourage cross-ventilation throughout the home. Meanwhile, automated external blinds and remote-controlled shutters provide fine-tuned control over sunlight, privacy, and thermal comfort.

This layered façade system allows the owners to adapt the home to seasonal changes, daily routines, and personal comfort preferences—ensuring a highly responsive living environment.

A Courtyard Home with Vertical Playfulness

Embracing the ethos of “smaller but better,” the architects crafted a spatially rich interior that relies on verticality and natural light rather than excess floor area. A central courtyard acts as the heart of the home, drawing sunlight and greenery into the living spaces while improving ventilation and offering serene visual relief.

Key design elements include:

• single-level living on the ground floor for long-term accessibility
• an upper level with a guest bedroom, bathroom, and art studio
• a sculptural bright yellow spiral staircase that adds both functional and artistic impact
• generous sightlines to the park opposite, which becomes an “extended garden” without maintenance

This harmony between built form and landscape reinforces the owners’ connection to nature and their neighborhood.

A Home Connected to Community and Landscape

For Bryan and Marija, the transition into Parkside Home marks the realization of a decades-old vision. Their Victorian frontage will eventually be released, while the new dwelling celebrates the northern orientation and framed park views previously blocked by a garage.

As Bryan describes, “The first thing I do every morning is open up the shutters and blinds… I love the openness of the park. It’s absolutely magic. It’s like being in the countryside.”

All photographs are works of  Tess Kelly