Today we’re bringing you the North Warrandyte home of designer Vy Costen, marine scientist Andrew Costen, their three boys Jack (7), Charlie (5) and Finlay (2), and two dogs Duffy and Niccolette. The Costen family are actually next door neighbours to Anna Byrnes and her two boys, whose equally amazing mid-century home we brought you a few weeks ago! It seems like every second home out in Melbourne’s outer north-east is an architectural masterpiece. 

This 1950’s house is located in an estate on the former land of Koornong Experimental School, which operated in the 1940s. Many of the home’s original features remain today, including the wonderful exposed stone walls, timber panelling, and a charming 1950s kitchen!

It’s notoriously challenging to get council approval for any new home design. Take this home in inner city for example, which took the local council a whopping 414 days (!) to approve!

It was worth the wait. The resulting award-winning ‘Welcome To The Jungle House‘ by CplusC Architectural Workshop was designed by the firm’s passionate director and sustainability crusader, Clinton Cole, for his own young family. By incorporating solar power, thermally sound materials, and an aquaponics system (!) this unique house is an exercise in characterful residential architecture, with the highest sustainability standards.

Casey Brown Architecture completed ‘Permanent Camping’ in 2007 – a pint-sized, copper-clad retreat on a Mudgee property.

A farmer took note of the project, and dreamt he’d one day have a similar cabin of his own. 13 years later, that dream became a reality.  

Located in Berry, Permanent Camping II is a modified version of the original design created with the same collaborator, Jeffrey Broadfield, alongside local builder, Smith and Primmer.