exploiting opportunities – Melbourne

Yarrbat Avenue in Balwyn in Melbourne’s inner eastern suburbs is a quiet residential street that reflects no particular historical period and it is lined with European deciduous trees that map the changes of seasons. The brief from the client sought to exploit the opportunities found on this site from its location. The site is on the side of a hill which has excellent views to the Dandenong Ranges, and it was important to allow the building to capture these distant views, as well as to strategically engage with the established trees lining the streets.
Designed by K2Ld Architects the home also had the requirement that it be a multi-generational home with the ability for it to provide independent and shared accommodation for the family and their grandparents together.
The house with its confident expression is intensely private.  Its windows to the street are narrow, or screened – just sufficient to engage with the immediate surrounding greenery.  The facade openings to the street form part of an animated timber façade where the upper floor is clad in highly durable Australian hardwood – Spotted Gum.  This is part of a simple expression of local raw materials with the the ground floor clad in local bluestone panels. This subtle animated gesture can also be seen referenced in joinery elements throughout the home.
The homes interiors are flooded with natural light through strategically placed windows and large skylights. Natural timbers and stone throughout reflect the ever-changing landscape and create a strong connection between the interiors, landscape and architecture. A neutral palette throughout the home allows the framed views of the changing seasons to act as artwork, evolving throughout the years with the home.