A Bushland Home in Melbourne That's Divided Between Two Pavilions

A split monolithic form gives this modern residence its name—Two Halves House.

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Distinguished by two pavilions that appear to stand apart at first sight—but are in fact connected—Two Halves House was designed with three requirements in mind. The homeowners wanted a high bush fire safety rating and a relaxed kitchen and living space for entertaining. Plus, they wanted to maximize the sloping site and the south-facing views.

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Mick Moloney, principal of Moloney Architects who worked on the project, said his clients wanted their internal living spaces to have a strong connection to its bushland surroundings. They also wanted to create privacy and a sense of seclusion.

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An entry corridor connects the two pavilions. On one side of the corridor is the pavilion that houses the garage and the more social, open-plan living spaces, including the kitchen, living, and dining areas.

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On the other side of the entranceway is the pavilion that holds the private zones including four bedrooms, two bathrooms, a study, and laundry room.

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In the heart of the "social" pavilion is the open-plan kitchen, which was designed with a skylight and a large island counter that encourages leisurely conversation.

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Custom-built, low-set bench seats are places around the living and kitchen areas to accommodate guests in a relaxed and casual way when the owners entertain.

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The minimalist bedrooms, which are designed like a series of cellular spaces, offer the best views of the bush while taking in the best quality of light.

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The public zones in the first pavilion face outwards, but the sleeping and bathing areas in the second pavilion are compartmentalized and private.

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For the interiors, Moloney Architects used a birch-faced plywood finish throughout to reinforce the monolithic form of the angled ceilings and to accentuate the earthy warmth of the space.