Architect Brunswick
Brunswick has some of Zen Architects' most significant work. Period homes and Californian bungalows, narrow blocks, a strong sense of community, and owners who care about how their homes are made.
We design extensions, restorations and new homes across Brunswick, Brunswick West and Brunswick East, almost always working with what is already there rather than starting again. Every project is led by our directors, Ric Zen and Luke Rhodes.
Keep what is good, add what is missing.
Art House and Studio restored a Victorian home and added a contemporary extension and a detached artist studio. The original weatherboards, Baltic pine floorboards, doors and windows were retained and reused.
In Brunswick West, The Nest added a mezzanine studio above a new open-plan living area at the back of a period home, under a north-facing raked roof. Nearby, the Victoria Street Collective brought six families together to build ten homes around a shared garden, and won Pioneering awards at state and national level in 2026.
Project shown: Art House and Studio, Brunswick. Builder 2iC Construction. Photography Emma Cross. View the project
Period Home Extensions
Additions that work with the original house, not over it.
Restoration and Reuse
Keeping original materials where they still have life in them.
Shared and Multi-Home Projects
From a second dwelling to a resident-led collective.
A private conversation with one of our architects about your Brunswick property. Arrange a design consultation
Questions worth answering.
Which council handles planning in Brunswick?
Brunswick is in Merri-bek City Council. Many streets carry heritage overlays, so we check every control that applies before the brief is fixed. You can check your own property's overlays with a free planning property report from VicPlan.
Can original materials be reused in a Brunswick renovation?
Often, yes. At Art House and Studio the original weatherboards, Baltic pine floorboards, doors and windows were retained and reused. It keeps the character of the house and the energy already invested in it.
How do you extend a Brunswick bungalow without overshadowing the neighbours?
Through the shape of the roof and the placement of the addition. At The Nest a raked roof rises to the north to bring light in without overshadowing next door.
Can a group of people build homes together in Brunswick?
Yes. The Victoria Street Collective in Brunswick West was started by six families who built ten homes around a shared garden. It won Pioneering awards at state and national level in 2026.
What kind of clients does Zen Architects work with in Brunswick?
Owners who want to stay in a community they love and make their home work better, often with a strong interest in sustainability and in keeping what is already there.
We also work with clients in neighbouring Fitzroy and nearby Northcote.