A VICTORIAN REVIVAL

Heartbeat House breathes new life into a 1910s cottage, transforming it into a multi-generational haven where modern functionality meets heritage charm

- WORDS ALEXANDRA LONGSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHY TATJANA PLITT

Tucked away in a leafy suburb of Moonee Ponds, Heartbeat House reimagines a modest 1910s Victorian cottage as a vibrant multi-generational home.

Designed with a deep respect for both family and heritage, this home is a serene sanctuary that embraces family gatherings while providing private spaces for all who live within. With a blend of traditional charm and modern functionality, Heartbeat House balances openness with intimacy in a seamless indoor-outdoor flow, catering to the needs of its clients, Bryan and Allison, and their extended family.

The vision for Heartbeat House was to create a space that feels as inviting and open as it does intimate. Bryan and Allison wanted an adaptable home where their family could come together easily, but where each member also has private areas to retreat to and recharge. Originally a compact Victorian cottage, the home now expands to a double-vaulted, light-filled living space and a lush, landscaped garden designed in collaboration with Saint Remy, offering an oasis of greenery in the heart of the suburb. “The emphasis was on openness balanced by a sense of retreat,” shares architect Warwick Mihaly. Heartbeat House embodies that philosophy, weaving harmony into every corner and curve of the home, where modern-day functionality and heritage charm seamlessly coexist.