South Melbourne Studio is a compact, multi-functional retreat designed as part of a broader reimagining of a cherished inner-city terrace.

Conceived to serve as a workspace, guest room and place of quiet retreat, the studio responds thoughtfully to the constraints of its urban context. Tucked into the garden and softened by a green roof and vertical planting, it offers a sense of calm enclosure while maintaining a quiet dialogue with the main house. Within it’s modest footprint, the design balances flexibility and warmth, privacy and connection—proving that even the smallest spaces can hold stillness, purpose, and a deep sense of home.

Completion date: 2014

Site Size: 112m²

Suburb: South Melbourne

Council: City of Port Phillip, on the traditional lands of the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung People

Design architects: Ilana Kister, Alexandra Ansari and Michal Eynon

Project architect: Alexandra Ansari

Photography: Michelle Williams