Black House

• Architecturally striking alteration and addition to a Heritage home in inner city Melbourne
• A bold material palette is used to create dramatic spaces
• Minimalist kitchen with concealed pantry and utility room - this project won the 2018 Trends International Design Award for Best Australian Architect Designed Kitchen
• A light filled double height void connects spaces and provides a sense of volume and spaciousness to the home.
• Indoor and outdoor spaces are extended through visual and physical connections.

This residential alteration and addition was designed to extend and transform a conservative heritage home in Melbourne’s inner suburbs into a striking and dynamic space for a young family. Our challenge was to create a visually refined yet highly functional family home that reflects a sleek design aesthetic and our client’s love for the colour black.

Can a family home be sleek and minimal - absolutely. Strong connections between spaces, framed views to the garden and city beyond all work towards creating a sense of generosity. Thoughtfully considered concealed storage solutions allow spaces easily maintained.

The design of the new addition revolves around a double height void that brings light into all habitable spaces. The main living, kitchen and dining room are connected to an open first floor landing, main bedroom, terrace and study area. Thoughtful planning combined with bold use of materials, textures and glass are used to expand the views through each space and create a sense of volume and spaciousness. This is the heart of their home. Our client loved the idea of incorporating black into their kitchen. We loved the idea of exploring black as a way of creating a dramatic backdrop for the presentation of feature elements and objects – a perpetual blank canvas. The result was a singular black kitchen wall incorporating cabinetry, appliances, benchtops and splashbacks. In front of the ‘canvas’ a custom designed marble & timber island bench is designed as a communal gathering space within the kitchen. To the side, a timber wall conceals an appliance bay, fridges, pantry storage, and access through to a utility room with an external service entrance.

Beautiful, functional and in every way a family home.

2018 Trends International Design Award for Best Australian Architect Designed Kitchen

This project is at it’s heart a well inhabited family home. Designing an architectural home for a family is about solving many often opposing design challenges. The ever changing needs of family life can exist within a strong minimalist space when it is designed to be adaptable and functional.