Close Knit is a reimagining of a dilapidated suburban 1960s brick dwelling, replaced with a new dual occupancy development that carefully balances independence with connection, enabling a genuine model of multi-generational living. The original structure was no longer fit for purpose, and rather than retrofit, the project was resolved through a complete rebuild that allows two households — retired parents and their daughter’s young family — to live side by side while maintaining a strong sense of independence and identity.

The architectural response is grounded in a clear planning strategy, with two dwellings organised in a similar overall form to reinforce parity between generations, while allowing subtle deviations to suit each household’s way of living. This mirrored arrangement establishes a quiet rhythm to the streetscape, while concealing meaningful differences within.

Internally, the two homes diverge further in character through material and tonal expression. The parents’ residence adopts a lighter, more natural palette that emphasises calmness and warmth, while the daughter’s family home introduces a bolder, more masculine finish palette, reflecting a different energy and pace of life.

For the parents’ residence, the plan prioritises long-term livability, with a ground floor bedroom suite enabling them to age in place without reliance on stairs. In contrast, the daughter’s dwelling is configured around the demands of a young family, incorporating a dedicated home office with street outlook and a generous rumpus room for children’s activity and play.

A unifying thread throughout the project is the patterned brickwork that gives the project its name — a subtle reference to the mother’s knitting practice, translated into the architectural fabric of the building. This motif becomes both a material expression and a metaphor for the project as a whole: a close-knit family structure, where individual lives are distinct yet intrinsically connected.

The result is a pair of homes that operate independently, yet remain deeply interwoven — a contemporary interpretation of extended family living, where architecture supports both togetherness and separation in equal measure.