They Made a New Life in Australia, and Built a Family Home That Merges Past and Present

When Krati and Sachin first approached Melbourne practice Inbetween Architecture, they had their sights set on a renovation of their existing home. "They were not passionate about building new," remembers firm founder John Liu. "But the site and home were not conducive to what they wanted to achieve."

Krati and Sachin, both medical professionals, are first-generation immigrants from India who have a son and a dog. The couple made Australia their home long ago, but were looking to deepen these roots with a property they could enjoy for years to come. As soon as everyone realized that they wouldn’t be able to expand the floor plan of their current home as much as they wanted, they found a property in Wheelers Hill, a suburb in southeast Melbourne, that set them up for an ideal compromise: They’d build a new home, but it would be designed to fit with the neighborhood, which had a lot to offer.

"The area was developed in the late ’70s and early ’80s with a lot of grand brick dwellings on generous lots," Liu says. "Due to the hilly nature of the neighborhood, many houses have fantastic views of the nearby Dandenong Ranges."