The Artedomus Journey Series
As construction of Hawksburn House nears completion, Lachlan McArdle of Lande Architects explores the design decisions and key collaboration with Artedomus that went into creating his own family home.
For Lachlan McArdle, the opportunity to design his own family home was a special one. “Having done dozens or hundreds of houses for other people before, when you get to do your own, it’s a really special moment to lean into some of the ideas and principles that you try and live by,” he says.
As the South Yarra project nears completion, his focus turns to the final layer of finishes and materials that allow the space to feel atmospheric and cohesive. “Until it’s in the space surrounded by the materials that it’s going to live with, it’s really hard to make those decisions,” he notes. Joined by Jaime Cucinotta from Artedomus, he refines the “one percenters”: the grout tones and stone selections that define the experience of the home.
For the exterior, Krause custom-made bent, transition bricks for the facade create the building’s seamless curve, contributing to its strong street presence. During construction, builder Fencon was able to “thread the needle” when craning in a beam, which allowed them to keep nearly all the branches of the existing birch trees – an enduring natural addition to the site.
From the street, the entry sequence features Cotto Manetti tobacco terracotta, flowing continuously from the footpath through to the interiors. This is paired with Litos Cotto Manetti, creating a warm, grounded palette that transitions into Made by Storey walnut timber flooring. As Cucinotta observes, “I love the transition from the light, airy facade outside, coming into the more warmer tones.”
McArdle highlights how each finish responds to its setting. In the bathroom and laundry, silver travertine pairs with the slim and organic Nagi border tiles to introduce subtle variation and tactility. “It was just completely different to any other light I’d seen it in,” he enthuses.
Collaborating closely with Artedomus also allowed McArdle to have “a peek behind the curtain with some products that they might be developing”. After finding the Tiberio marble too pink and red for the space, Cucinotta came to him with the Qaritza stone before it had officially landed, and it ended up being the “perfect match to a lot of the other materials, which all fell into place”.
McArdle notes that the most challenging part of the project is it being his own home. “Those decisions that sometimes come easier with clients, sometimes feel a bit more like a wrestle when it’s your own project and you are the stakeholder and end user with your family,” he admits. However, it also allows for more leeway in taking risks and trying new things. As the scaffolding comes down and construction wraps up, he is excited to see how all the finishing touches come together to create a cohesive and beautiful home.
