Not everyone could live sandwiched between their parents, but that is exactly what architects Lara Nobel and Andrew Carter are doing. The couple bought a block in Highgate Hill with Andrew’s parents, renovated its existing cottage, then built a two-bedroom granny flat for themselves and their two children Charlie, 7, and Max, 5. Lara’s parents live over the back fence.
Architects Lara Nobel and Andrew Carter in their 78-square-metre granny flat. Credit: Markus Ravik This was their solution to housing affordability, and the architects relished the challenge of building on a sloping inner-city block in the suburb where Lara grew up and where they both spent their university years living in large share houses. Perhaps the challenge of carving out homes on unique parcels of land is what attracts so many architects to their area.
(Lara and Andrew’s granny flat is just 78 square metres.) The inner-city suburbs of West End and Highgate Hill are home to the most number of architects (68) in Brisbane, according to analysis of census data that pinpoints the most common suburb of residence in the state for more than 1000 different jobs. Lara and Andrew’s granny flat makes the most of the outdoor space on their sloping block.
Credit: Markus Ravik “I reckon architects tend to be a pretty idealistic sort of bunch – some of us, at least – and there’s a lovely sense of community here. And the benefits of living close to the city are obvious,” Andrew said. “There’s also .