This inner city Melbourne home is designed around its owner's passion for books and art
This inner-city warehouse-style home in Melbourne, Australia, was originally a mechanic's workshop, literally stripped to its very 'bones'. Rather than demolish what remained, architect Stephen Jolson retained a number of those bare external walls, as well as recycling the bricks, when he transformed the site into his latest residential project. 'These bricks provide a sense of the site's history and add to the strength and texture of this place,' he says. The architect used them to create a woven pattern of red-blue coloured clinker bricks to provide a backdrop for this striking contemporary home.
Take an interactive tour of Melbourne House
While the facade appears impermeable, the three-level house has been thoughtfully conceived to embrace the surrounding views of the leafy neighbourhood. Designed for a client who has an appreciation for books and art, the house has been customised for these fine collections. An extraordinary two-storey high bookshelf 'pierces' the two lower levels. And at ground level, retractable mesh walls allow for the display of artworks. 'Our client's artwork, objects and furniture were presented to us at the start of our briefing process,' says Jolson, who was mindful of the need for generous storage in all areas. 'The sliding art storage walls (at ground level) allow for pieces to be stored as well as reconsidered for future hanging,' he adds.
To maximise natural light, Jolson located the kitchen, dining and main living area on the first floor. The third and top level, accessed by stairs as well as a lift, are given over to the main bedroom suite, together with a sumptuous study. The piece de resistance takes the form of the expansive terrace leading from the living areas and offering an impressive view of Melbourne's skyline.
Rather than concealing objects and artefacts, as so many architects do to create a minimal aesthetic, here the personality of the client reigns. 'We loved expressing our client's passion for books and art. Our textural backdrop was more than sufficient,' adds Jolson modestly.
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
The visual feast of the Sony World Photography Awards 2024 is revealed
The Sony World Photography Awards 2024 winners have been revealed – we celebrate the Architecture & Design category’s visual artists
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Don’t Move, Improve 2024: London’s bold, bright and boutique home renovations
Don’t Move, Improve 2024 reveals its shortlist, with 16 home designs competing for the top spot, to be announced in May
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Perfumer H has bottled the scent of dandelions blowing in the wind
Perfumer H has debuted a new fragrance for spring, called Dandelion. Lyn Harris tells Wallpaper* about the process of its creation
By Hannah Tindle Published
-
Lavender Bay house opens towards the water, overlooking Sydney harbour
Lavender Bay house by Tobias Partners is an expansive family home overlooking Sydney harbour
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Mori House is an Australian beach escape fusing international design influences
Mornington Peninsula's Mori House by architect Manuel Aires Mateus is a striking fusion of Australian, Portuguese and Japanese design influences
By Stephen Crafti Published
-
Victorian cottage transformed by radical extension into a light-filled living space
Glasshouse Projects has opened up the heart of this Victorian cottage in Adelaide, Australia, with a contemporary garden extension and pool
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Sydney’s Wharf Apartment is a heritage maritime space that evokes a coastal holiday home
Lawless & Meyerson’s Wharf Apartment is a careful, contemporary residential transformation in Sydney’s Finger Wharf that taps into the property's historic character
By Grace Bernard Published
-
Eclat rethinks 21st-century workspace with a hospitality offering in Melbourne
With new Melbourne co-working space Eclat, Australian designers Forme defy the conventional shared office model through sensitive craftsmanship and hidden high-tech
By Carli Philips Published
-
This Melbourne aquatic recreation centre’s crafted timber ceiling hints at its sustainability ambitions
The Northcote Aquatic Recreation Centre by Warren and Mahoney opens in Melbourne, blending sleek aesthetics with environmental responsibility
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Treetops House brings softness to contemporary concrete volumes in Sydney
Treetops House by Tobias Partners is an Australian home that juxtaposes crisp concrete volumes with soft curves, playful colours and lush nature
By Ellie Stathaki Published
-
Tour midcentury gem Fisher House’s 21st century facelift in Melbourne
The midcentury Fisher House by Australian designer Alistair Knox in Melbourne gets a contemporary facelift by Adriana Hanna
By Ellie Stathaki Published