A multi-level residence informed by the site’s natural fall at the edge of a park. The spatial sequence draws the eye from street level through to expansive parkland and distant urban views.

Location: Surrey Hills, Victoria

Completion: 2024

Credits:

Landscape Design - CX Landscape

Photographer - Bruce Song

Interior Stylist - Hiro Liu

The Timeless House preserves the home’s historic character while seamlessly integrating the backyard and outbuilding, with a second level added to the roof to bring renewed life and functionality for contemporary living.

Location: Kew Victoria

Completion: 2024

Credit:

Builder: JL Development Australia

Photographer: Harry Wang

A former backyard pool transformed into functional storage, crowned with a relaxed alfresco for BBQs and outdoor gatherings—a reimagined space for everyday enjoyment.

Location: Balwyn Victoria

Completion: 2020

Credits:

Photographer: Bruce Song

A double-storey residence organised around a calm vertical void, where daily living unfolds between garden, light, and structure.

Location: Bulleen Victoria

Completion: 2016

Credits:

Builder - Hartman Construction

Landscape Design and Construction - Kihara Landscapes

Photographer - Tatjana Plitt

Award:

This project was made a finalist of the 2018 Australian Timber Design Awards.

Dissolving the Boundary is a riverside dwelling that seeks a quiet relationship with its neighbouring park. By carefully orienting the house and maximising the site’s potential, living spaces extend visually and spatially toward the landscape, allowing the park to be experienced as part of everyday life rather than a distant backdrop.

Location: Maribyrnong, Victoria

Completion: 2014

Credits:

Builder - Walshe's Alternative Living

Joiner - Hargreaves Joinery

Photographer - Rachel Lewis

Disclaimer:

This project was designed by MNE Architects back in 2011 while UA's founder Mr Tze Lee was working there as a director.  The interior design (including joinery design, material selection&use, fittings&fixture selection, etc) and the majority of architectural detailing were done by Urbourne Architecture after Mr Lee left MNEA.

This new home is shaped by a pair of playful gable-end frames, creating layered volumes that give the house character. Carefully integrated greenery softens the architecture, bringing nature gently into daily life.

Location: Mount Waverley, Victoria

Completion: 2022

Credits:

Builder: Eighties Group

Photographer: Bruce Song

Office, Surrey Hills 

Completed 2020

The architectural design of this three-storey office block focuses on maximizing spatial quality and creating a healthy and well-lit working environment. The building is planned in a U-shaped floor plan, which incorporates a central courtyard at first floor and a spacious balcony at the top floor. The presence of greenery in the courtyard and balcony enhances the ambiance and creates a pleasant working environment, benefiting employees' well-being, reducing stress, and increasing productivity.

Another key consideration in the design process was the efficient use of resources. The building is constructed using a modular construction methodology, which offers several advantages. Modular construction allows for a significant reduction in construction time compared to traditional methods. By employing prefabricated modules, the construction process becomes more streamlined and less prone to delays, resulting in cost savings.

Moreover, the use of modular construction also helps minimize construction waste. Precise measurements and careful planning in the manufacturing of modules reduce material wastage on-site. This approach aligns with sustainable practices and promotes environmental stewardship by reducing the overall carbon footprint associated with the construction process.

Bubble Tea Bar, Cranbourne

Completed 2020

The design concept of Mr. Panda Bubble Tea Bar draws inspiration from the vibrant flavors of bubble tea, represented by colorful cups. The focal point of the space is a feature wall consisting of various cylindrical forms in vibrant colors, resembling the shape and lively hues of bubble teas. These cylindrical walls not only add visual interest but also cleverly conceal the irregular shape of the shop's floor plan.

The entrance features grey and speckled stone, offering glimpses of the vibrant colours within to pique curiosity and draw people in. The mocha feature wall near the cashier area serves as a metaphorical curtain on a stage, humbly harmonizing with the entrance and offering a preview of the captivating world of colours inside.

Inside, the colorful walls create a mesmerizing display, aiming to uplift the community during the challenging Covid-19 outbreak. The vibrant and cheerful design brings joy and positivity, offering a respite from the difficulties faced by the community.

The design of Mr. Panda Bubble Tea Bar combines the enticing allure of bubble tea flavors with captivating aesthetics, creating an immersive and uplifting experience for customers. The project showcases creativity, innovation, and a commitment to enhancing the well-being of the local community through thoughtful design.

Credits:

Shopfitter - Crown Shopfitters

Photographer - Damien Kook

Tapware Showroom, Carrum Downs

Completed 2022

Video: https://nerotapware.com.au/showroom/

Virtual Showroom: https://matterport.com/discover/space/x3ZjHriLH8n

Nero Showroom 2.0 represents our second endeavor in designing a captivating showroom for Nero. The challenge we faced was how to convert a plain and uninspiring empty space into a visually stunning display of tapware excellence.

To address this challenge, we meticulously planned a visitor journey, carefully curating different zones for distinct product categories while featuring a central stage to highlight key product ranges.

Upon entering the warehouse, visitors are greeted by a grand timber screen adorned with the prominent Nero logo. This striking entrance sets the tone for the immersive tapware experience that awaits.

An architectural focal point within the showroom is the kitchen tapware display counter, thoughtfully crafted using beautiful natural stone. This counter serves a dual purpose, showcasing tapware products while also providing a versatile space for future events.

With a careful balance of aesthetics and functionality, Nero Showroom 2.0 captivates visitors with its architectural elegance. By thoughtfully planning zones, incorporating a central stage, and paying attention to every detail, the showroom offers a platform to showcase the exquisite craftsmanship and versatility of Nero Tapware. The result is an extraordinary transformation of an ordinary space into an exceptional showroom experience.

Credits:

Shopfitter - Urbourne Projects

Photographer - Tatjana Plitt

Restaurant, Surrey Hills

Completed 2021

China Wei, a cozy restaurant nestled in the heart of Surrey Hills, seamlessly blends traditional Chinese elements with contemporary design for a captivating dining experience that celebrates Chinese culture while embracing modernity.

The interior elegantly merges Chinese-inspired motifs with contemporary design. Natural wood, and soft lighting, and a warm colour palette create an intimate atmosphere. Decorative screens, and intricate patterns inspired by Chinese calligraphy add elegance and authenticity.

In addition to honoring Chinese design heritage, China Wei incorporates contemporary features for a stylish environment. Clean lines, minimalist accents, and a sophisticated color palette harmoniously blend with traditional motifs.

China Wei's design concept reflects its commitment to providing an exceptional dining experience that goes beyond cuisine.

Credit:

Photographer: Bruce Song

BACKPACKERS ACCOMMODATION, BOX HILL

PLANNING PERMIT APPLICATION STAGE

Restaurant, Glen Waverley

Completed Feb 2017

This project is the third restaurant we have designed for the Laksa King brand. The design intends to create a comfortable and simple hospitality environment, to draw attention back to the food served.

The existing restaurant was dark and overshadowed with an awkward seating arrangement. Our first attempt was to re-arrange the seating and kitchen layout to make the restaurant more open and welcoming.

The use of light-toned timber dowel walls, birch ply wall panels & joinery helped to brighten the space. The timber elements contrast with concrete and stone materiality, and also bring out their complimentary textures in harmony.

The feature acoustic panel fins in the ceiling help to provide a better dining environment and enhance the flow of spatial quality.

Credits:

Shopfitter - Crown Shopfitters

Photographer - Jack Lovel

Award:

This project was made a finalist of the 2019 Australian Timber Design Awards.

Restaurant, Flemington

Completed Feb 2019

We are pleased to have the opportunity to design another exciting new restaurant for the Laksa King brand.

Given to us was a typical Victorian double-storey shophouse with its typical issues of narrow, long and dark interior spaces. Our approach was to re-layout the space to achieve a more spacious and brighter dining concept.

An attempt of creating an internal garden dining feel was addressed by materiality such as textured concrete wall paint, patterned tiles tabletop, translucent screens, etc., and teaming up with lively indoor plants to suggest an interaction between patrons & the fitout environment.

Credits:

Shopfitter - Horfield Group

Photographer - Damien Kook

Graphic Designer - Hue Studio

Restaurant @ Southland Shopping Center

Completed 2015

This restaurant is a new branding exercise for the original Laksa King restaurant in Flemington. The deceivingly simplistic form has well-crafted detailed architectural language. The main feature - a curved bulkhead over the main bar and counter differentiates itself from the rest of the angular typology. 

Credits:

Builder - Walshe's Alternative Living

Photographer - Harvard Wang

Joiner - Hargreaves Joinery

Furniture Maker - Mark Miller

Design Development Stage

SINGLE STOREY RESIDENCE, WARRANDYTE SOUTH

Documentation Stage

Multi-Residential Development, Greensborough.

Town Planning Stage

This project draws on its context of Greensborough - a leafy suburb with valley and reserve views. Working closely with the local council and our client, the building plans to have a landmark effect on the Para Road Central Activity Zone. The 'landmark' for this project is not driven by architectural form, shape nor avant-garde typologies. In reverse, we decided to express the 'landmark' via its inner means of the building, letting the community experience new communal amenities and new ways of framing spaces and views through a spatial arrangement concept that we call the VERTICAL VILLAGE. 

Multi-Residential Development, Preston

Town Planning Endorsement Stage

Multi-residential Development, West Melbourne

Concept Design Stage

A 68-unit high density development with an experimental twist on the reverse living concept.  The design provides a full storey of landscaping in between dual level townhouses.  With Neighbourly interaction across fences, the suburban backyard is recast in an urban form just outside Melbourne's CBD

Multi-residential Development, Brunswick

Town Planning Stage

STACKED II is another of our new housing typological idea for urban development near to Melbourne CBD. The project consists of 46 housing units with a challenging architectural language trying its best to blend in with the values of Heritage Architecture within the urban context. 

Multi-residential Development, Blackburn South

Completed May 2017

This project consists of 31 apartments over 3 levels and a single level basement parking with car stackers.  The project came to us with plans and permit previously done by CGB.  The client's brief to us was to revitalize the design and document it in detail to be compliant with current construction regulations.

We have fully redesigned the internal layout of each unit, interior joinery, bathrooms and kitchens. Apart from the interior design work, we have gone through the process of redesigning the core of the building to meet with compliance codes & standards. Our team is currently acting as the contract administrator for the construction.

Credits:

Builder: Orange Building Solutions