In quiet East Melbourne.

December 2019

Build by Jarah Construction

The clients had requested a complete refresh of their East Melbourne pied-à-terre, to serve as their primary residence after downsizing from a house in the country.

Coupled with the desire for as much concealed storage space as possible throughout the apartment, the clients also asked for a streamlined reorganization of the living space and kitchen to include an area for meals that could naturally oscillate between contemplative morning coffees and after dinner drinks with friends. A more surgical intervention was made to widen the entry hallway to accommodate an art wall and mitigate the ‘dance’ visitors have to perform as they enter.

Faced with a contradiction of a lack of natural light, and the desire for privacy from the offices located opposite the west-facing balcony, we replaced the existing plantation shutters with a simple sheer curtain. The conversation steered towards embracing the low light levels with a sombre material palette; a textured canvas for the art and curios collected throughout their travels.

A black stained veneer of floor to ceiling scalloped timber planks unfurls from the entry hallway across the dining and living spaces, two sets of pivot doors concealing the laundry cupboard and the main bedroom (from dark to light a surprise).