In a quiet heritage street in Fitzroy North, Rob Kennon Architects design a distinct two-part house, breaking down the boundaries between outside and in.
This family home faintly recreates the silhouette of a traditional double-fronted workers cottage from the street. But upon entry, it quickly dissolves the stereotype of narrow inner-city homes and their lack of ample outdoor space. By flipping the traditional home layout on its head with a garden in the middle of the block, Rob Kennon Architects have made way for two new structures, emanating a sense of openness and connection.
The Knoll Cesca Chair (Armless) designed by Marcel Breuer and the 265 Wall Lamp by Paolo Rizzatto for Flos.
Open storage partially separates the living room from the kitchen and dining while maintaining the consistent open feeling throughout the home.
The core concept behind this home is the idea of ‘a house within a garden’. A distant memory of the traditional double-fronted weatherboard facade is evident in the new cottage masked by vertical timber battens; establishing the continuous theme of ‘concealment’ in the home. Separated into two explicit parts, the new cottage houses a guest bedroom and studio while the contemporary metal structure holds the main living and dining areas and the additional bedrooms and bathrooms.
The kitchen, living and dining room are positioned at the back of the block surrounded by garden on both sides, abandoning the usual idea of a house followed by a backyard. It’s here where the ‘house within a garden’ concept is realised. Glazed openings run from one expanse of the existing boundary wall to the other, drenching this area in natural light throughout the day. A series of skylights illuminate the timeless Knoll Cesca Chairs and dining table by Melbourne-based furniture designer Thomas Lentini.
The kitchen features Super White by CDK Stone.
The galvanised metal grid acts as a shield over the outdoor dining area and provides shade for the garden below.
A subtle modern Australian aesthetic reigns supreme throughout, built from the utilitarian base palette of bagged brick, washed oak floors and cement. The kitchen emphasises the laidback nature of the home, with functional storage for family living and hardwearing benchtops in Super White by CDK Stone. Moving away from the kitchen, a timber staircase and balustrade lead you inside the galvanised metal grid, acting as a shield over the outdoor dining area and providing shade for the garden below.
The notion of concealment continues upstairs, with streamlined cabinetry and a hidden ensuite behind timber joinery. A unique freestanding basin raised on a stone platform and angular shower screen contribute to the abstract layout of the home.
Exploring the connection between indoors and outdoors, Rob Kennon Architects have reimagined the conventional home layout through a lens of concealment.
The home features plenty of full-height built-in storage.
Japanese INAX tiles and Brodware tapware in the ensuite.
