This two-storey luxury Toorak home harmonizes a complex combination of features: a bathing grotto and fitness retreat, a two-storey aquarium and a 15-person office, in addition to the comforts of a beautifully designed home.
Located in a dense residential setting, our challenge was to do justice to all elements of this significant brief on a relatively small land size, and ensure the best possible amenity and outcome for the client.
Approaching the building from afar the signature roof canopy which acts as a crown to the building and allows the project to distinctively contribute to its surroundings as a landmark. As you come to the entry the lobby aquarium greets you as a waterfall, cascading down over the exterior facade as an outdoor fountain. This leads into a grand double height void with a towering top of stair view to greet the owner every morning.
The ground floor office space, fit for 15 staff, is afforded its own street frontage and giving the client a home office experience where they can also collaborate with their whole team.
Outdoor space was maximised with the pool area designed as a grotto, sitting inset into the outdoor space. When not in use, decking encloses the pool, giving rise to a much increased open space on ground level. This is complemented by the more communal entertainment roof terrace ensconced by spectacular views.
Via a strategic use of space and by employing devices that would increase the versatility of key areas, we were able to not only incorporate all features into the building envelope but our approach to the challenge shaped the unique identity of the building.
Despite the functional delineation of work and home spaces, organically articulated around the spiral staircase, the design holistically coalesces as a unique, coherent form.
