Brick By Brick

In Melbourne, cherishing the small things produced a home that’s efficient on space and big on heart.

- Stephen Crafti

Australians often take the amount of space available for housing for granted, with the postwar ‘quarter-acre block’ benchmark still achievable in some suburban areas. Architect Sonia Sarangi and her husband Rachit, the owners of this 1940s semi in Melbourne’s inner north, however, were both raised in apartments in India. “When we arrived in Melbourne in 2006, I told Rachit that I would be satisfied with a piece of the sky,” says Sonia, a director of Atelier Red+Black. She achieved those sky views – and a lovely garden too.

Sonia admits that it wasn’t exactly love at first sight with this semi. “I think I described the house to Rachit as ‘austere’,” she says. But the home’s size – just four rooms – nor its dated condition were deterrents. In fact, the original features, including a decorative starburst ceiling rose, caused great excitement, as did the wonderful textured walls. “Texture is important in life,” says Sonia. “That might be interesting architecture, fine embroidery on a fabric, even a mix of cultures.”

The couple lived in the four rooms for seven years while they worked on plans for their dream home. “As an architect, you tend to put your own projects on the back burner,” says Sonia. Thankfully, her business partner, architect Michael Smith, was more than happy to help. Indeed, he became an integral part of the design process and oversaw the construction. “I’d often come into the office after sketching out a few ideas the evening before and bounce them off Michael,” says Sonia.