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Office Fora's Brunswick Corner House Exposes Construction as Finish

architecture-design · 2026-06-01

In 2023, Office Fora, located in Melbourne, finalized the Brunswick Corner House, which is a two-storey extension to a Victorian worker's cottage situated on a 141sqm corner plot. Co-directors Alexander Wright and Stephanie Poole highlighted the importance of visible construction techniques and raw materials. The design incorporates a timber addition with board-and-batten siding, galvanised steel awnings, and large windows. A wider hallway and a galvanised steel staircase link the old and new sections, revealing exposed weld lines and stainless steel frames. The upper level features two adaptable rooms without built-in cabinetry, complemented by locally sourced plywood flooring. A solar array supports heat pump systems, and reclaimed bricks are utilized for paving. Developed during COVID with budget limitations, the project focuses on family needs rather than outside pressures.

Key facts

  • Office Fora completed Brunswick Corner House in 2023 on a 141sqm corner lot in Brunswick, Melbourne.
  • Co-directors Alexander Wright and Stephanie Poole led the project.
  • The extension features exposed construction detailing: weld lines, stainless steel carcasses, no plinth or cladding.
  • Galvanised steel awnings borrow logic from neighbouring industrial workshops.
  • A galvanised steel stair was fabricated by industrial specialists adapting standard processes.
  • The stair void includes a glazed screen borrowing light and framing roofscape views.
  • Upstairs rooms have deliberately flexible layouts without built-in joinery.
  • Locally sourced plywood flooring from Big River Timbers is used throughout.
  • A solar array powers heat pump systems; salvaged bricks are reused as external paving.
  • The project was built during COVID under budget constraint.

Entities

Artists

  • Alexander Wright
  • Stephanie Poole

Institutions

  • Office Fora
  • Britex
  • Artedomus
  • Big River Timbers
  • JAK Architecture
  • Sonelo Architects

Locations

  • Brunswick
  • Melbourne
  • Australia
  • 12 Ewing Street
  • Barwon Heads
  • Coburg

Sources