Campbell House By Nüüd Studio
Originally a modest 1980s townhouse, Campbell House has been transformed by Melbourne-based Nüüd Studio into a light-filled home where craftsmanship, material warmth and family life come together.
Words HANDE RENSHAW Photos SEAN FENNESSEY Interiors NÜÜD STUDIO Styling JESSICA LILLICO Build JCL BUILDERS
Once a poorly lit 1980s brick townhouse, Campbell House has been thoughtfully reimagined to embrace natural light, spatial clarity and a warm material palette that responds to its Victorian-era surrounds.
At the centre of the ground floor, the new kitchen brings warmth, connection and a renewed sense of flow to the home.
Living room artwork: You can’t make wax stick together with glue just by deciding the past was wrong by Kate Tucker.
Materiality sits at the heart of the project, shaping spaces that feel warm, grounded and enduring.
The kitchen is anchored by richly textured red dolomite, with warm tones and pared-back detailing celebrating the natural materials.
“Rather than imposing something new, the project reveals the strength and beauty of the home’s existing fabric.”
Dining, cooking and living areas flow seamlessly into one another.
Australian spotted gum and richly textured red dolomite come together in the kitchen.
Living room artwork: You can’t make wax stick together with glue just by deciding the past was wrong by Kate Tucker.
Soft green joinery, warm timber and built-in storage bring warmth and functionality to the entry, reflecting the home's considered approach to family living.
Designed around the rhythms of family life, the home balances openness with privacy, creating spaces that invite gathering as readily as they offer retreat.
Simple materials and soft, natural tones bring warmth to the bedroom, where every detail has been considered to foster a sense of calm.
The bathroom pairs warm timber with textured plaster, creating a simple and functional space shaped by natural materials.
Retained lining boards, exposed timber beams and textured glass celebrate the home's original character.
Original lining boards have been retained and refreshed, bringing warmth and texture to the stairwell while honouring the home's 1980s origins.
Nüüd Studio has brought new life to Campbell House, a modest 1980s townhouse in Hawthorn East, through a series of thoughtful interventions that celebrate its existing fabric while introducing greater light, flow and warmth for family life.
Now home to a young family of four, the townhouse came with many of the challenges typical of its era. The interiors were dark, circulation felt convoluted and the layout fragmented daily life into a series of disconnected spaces. Yet beneath these constraints sat a palette of honest materials and robust construction that offered unexpected potential.
From the outset, the studio's approach centred on clarity, sunlight and a stronger relationship between spaces. The existing timber structure, double-brick walls and lining boards were retained and reinterpreted, providing a framework for the renovation. Rather than competing with the home's original qualities, the intervention works alongside them, gently revealing what was already there.
The most significant transformation takes place on the ground floor, where a new kitchen now anchors the home. Conceived as three distinct yet interconnected elements, the highly crafted joinery creates a natural rhythm through the living spaces while drawing the eye towards a new full-height opening and north-facing courtyard beyond. Sunlight now moves freely through the interior, bringing warmth and vitality to spaces that were once dim and enclosed.
Materiality plays a defining role throughout the project. Australian spotted gum and richly textured red dolomite lend depth and permanence, grounding the home with warmth and a sense of enduring character. The joinery balances contemporary functionality with subtle detailing that acknowledges the predominantly Victorian-era neighbourhood.
Beyond aesthetics, the renovation brings a renewed ease to everyday living. Dining, cooking and living areas flow seamlessly into one another, creating spaces that feel open and connected while still allowing for moments of intimacy and retreat.
Upstairs, a series of carefully considered planning adjustments have further improved the home's functionality. A previously awkward shared bathroom arrangement has been untangled into two separate spaces, all while retaining the home's three-bedroom footprint. Soft green tones applied to the existing lining boards and glossy green tiles in the ensuite draw inspiration from the leafy outlook beyond, reinforcing a sense of calm throughout the upper level.
The result is a home that feels both grounded and generous. Through measured interventions and a deep respect for the existing fabric, Nüüd Studio has transformed an overlooked townhouse into a light-filled sanctuary where craftsmanship, material warmth and family life sit comfortably side by side.
Location: Hawthorn East, Victoria
Architecture: Nüüd Studio
Photography: Sean Fennessy
