The original Edwardian house on a grand Toorak estate was stripped back to remove unfortunate additions and then bestowed with theatrical new pavilions which are appropriate for a great quality of life in the 21st century.
Rob Mills
This is an example of a project where the word renovation does not do justice to the scale and scope of the work. Sited in one of Melbourne’s most gracious streets this majestic home has been reinvented in the style of the original while building in new architectural statements, which add to its sense of grandeur and gravitas.
Set is a significant landscaped garden by Paul Bangay, RMA sought to engage with the outdoors through the introduction of an elegant conservatory with the formal geometry of arched, steel framed doors leading from the house to the garden.
The arch becomes something of a design motif for windows and doorways throughout the house with their finely calibrated steel frames nodding quietly to the contemporary. In the main living room a vaulted ceiling of spectacular proportions has a skylight at its apex ensuring the space is light filled and airy.
The floors, with their intricate geometry, are oak stained just the right shade to impart a rich, aged sheen while the walls have a bespoke paint finish, which responds well to light and adds a soft context for the furnishings.
While RMA ensured the architectural context was an exercise in the highest quality materials and finishes, that the orientation ensured light and air filled the house, it was interior designer Stuart Rattle who specified the furniture and lighting to reflect the spirit of the house and the personality of its owner.
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