The home: A new three-level townhouse in St Kilda East, with four bedrooms and a rooftop deck with views of the city and Port Phillip Bay.
Who lives here: Patrick Jost, an architect with Jost Architects, his wife Rose, a psychology graduate, their children Inés, 11, Nina, 9, Lenny, 6, and Moses the dog.
The open-plan kitchen and living area is furnished with inherited mid-20th century pieces and a sofa from Jardan.Credit:Armelle Habib
What we did: "We bought and demolished the existing house three years ago, then subdivided the lot and built two townhouses – one for us and one for Patrick's parents," says Rose.
My favourite room: "Although the deck is incredible, and unique in our neighbourhood, the real surprise has been the living area, which sits elevated from the street and is flooded with light, yet still feels private and homely."
The 'hood': "We are long time East St Kilda residents – there is a real sense of history, culture and family, plus unbeatable food on our doorstep."
Future plans: "We built the house to sell it, but now that we are living in it, we're not so sure. It's the perfect urban family home, near to everything we need and just a joy to live in."
Best advice: "If you're building a house, try to strike a balance between idiosyncrasy and neutrality. You can always make your mark with furniture and artwork. And having a very close relationship with your architect doesn't hurt!"