The Eighth Penthouse
The dichotomy of classic and contemporary is on display in this striking penthouse by Studio Kennon.
Spanning 750 square metres with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, the residence tops one of central Melbourne’s newest luxury buildings. Here, traditional layouts give way to architectural gestures that create a continual interplay between the familiar and the inventive. It’s refined, with moments of ornamentation that emerge then quietly recede.
Conceived as a highly private urban sanctuary, the home includes a 200-square-metre rooftop garden and a sequence of living areas designed for serenity and elevated entertaining beneath 3.5-metre ceilings. At its centre, a sculptural kitchen anchors the social heart of the home, positioned beside the formal dining room and bar. Across the upper level, uninterrupted city views and abundant natural light define the atmosphere from morning to dusk, taking in Port Phillip Bay and the Royal Botanic Gardens.
The project is the result of a longstanding partnership with Projects by Crema, who were looking for a penthouse with a considered, composed mood – one that celebrates the building’s ideology and the broader development. The brief centred on creating a home that feels calm yet indulgent, with strong architectural clarity and a layered interior experience: an approach that privileges quality over trend and ritual over ostentation. The result is tranquil and assured – layered interiors driven by comfort, discretion and longevity, supporting waking, cooking, resting and entertaining.
Each detail in the residence has been meticulously considered over the years to ensure a cohesive vision from the earliest planning stages. With the project commencing in 2021 and completing in 2025, there was plenty of time to refine the design language while shaping bespoke furniture pieces and an art collection. For Studio Kennon, the outcome is holistic and powerful, with every element placed with intention.
White marble forms the foundational material – used at multiple scales and across applications – to establish a classical base that grounds the home. The material palette was guided by restraint and a desire for depth without noise. There are large mirrored slabs in the kitchen, soft tonal shifts and playful details and proportions that align with the movement of quiet luxury.
“The challenge lay in balancing classical intent with contemporary expression: allowing moments of opulence to emerge while maintaining a pervasive softness and calm,” says architect Pete Kennon of Studio Kennon. In the penthouse, each architectural decision reinforces the firm’s belief in architecture as a blueprint for living well.
Architecture and interior design by Studio Kennon.
