Originally built in 1983, this mock Georgian home has undergone more than just a face lift, the entire building has had a major body overhaul thanks to Melbourne based architects Kathryn Robson and Chris Rak of Robson Rak. The owners of the ‘Toorak2’ house decided against pulling the existing home down after purchasing it a few years ago and instead commissioned the Robson Rak team with a brief that called for a ‘correction of the faux styling of the 80’s’.
While the removing of all 80’s style references was a priority for the owners, the underlying requirement was to modernise the existing structure while also creating a functional, yet elegant, family home.
The first step in the process of redesigning the existing structure involved stripping back the building to its very core.
Relying on a material palette of steel, granite and timber, Robson Rak varied the texture and finishes in order to create depth and interest to the scheme.
Using the same granite for both floors and bench tops, Robson Rak chose the use a ‘flamed’ finish for the floors while honed granite bench tops in the kitchen and bathrooms were used to add a further dimension.
All finishes were removed and a new wing added in order to create more space for a garage, laundry, butlers pantry and lift.
At the back of the house 7.5m steel framed, double glazed pivot doors open up entirely to the backyard lined in conifers and hedging plants.
PHOTOGRAPHY: Brooke Holm. STYLING: Marsha Golemac.
