Challenging the Anticipated – Baliol Residence by Grieve Gillett Anderson Architects

Challenging the anticipated in its heritage-heavy surrounds, Baliol Residence sees a modernist and gabled barn vernacular combine. Grieve Gillett Anderson Architects brings a sophistication of materiality, detail and nuance to the project.

Located in the inner urban suburbs of leafy Adelaide, Baliol Residence challenges the anticipated residential response, both in spite and because of its conservative neighbours. Although honouring the value of the landscape, with its own generous, well-considered and manicured lush playground, the home itself breaks down the formality of the comprising parts of the home and cleverly reconstructs them on site. Grieve Gillett Anderson Architects brings their well-tuned sophistication to the application of materiality, detail and resulting nuances.

Located in the inner urban suburbs of leafy Adelaide, Baliol Residence challenges the anticipated residential response, both in spite and because of its conservative neighbours.

Essentially broken into two volumes, Baliol Residence sees a modernist and a gabled barn vernacular combine. The modernist form expresses its horizontality through its single-story linear presence on site. Deep voids offer glimpses into the interiors, and cast long shadows internally, while providing a protection from the sun concurrently. A carved-out portion of the overall mass is then propped up with thin vertical post elements in the same monochromatic palette. Abutting this clean and bold formation is a less formal and more playful gable structure, that references the traditional barn vernacular.

Abutting this clean and bold formation is a less formal and more playful gable structure, that references the traditional barn vernacular.

Sleeved in its own custom metal detail, the barn in its solid formality has a strong presence on site, where the screen sits slightly in front of the gabled form, allowing for a sense of relief from the overall mass. The opportunity for moving shadows throughout the day, as the screen interacts with the changing sun location, also casts an interesting pattern across the site. The coming-together of these volumes represents a play on the family residential home, being a place of identity and presence, and one of more casual and relatable comfort.

With landscapes by Virginia Kennett Garden Design, the home sits comfortably amongst its neighbours, offering a European formality that allows the building to truly address the streetscape. As with its form, the planning and internal layout references a more contemporary approach, compared to its neighbours with less formal individual rooms, and open-plan connecting spaces with ease of access and flow. The palette speaks to a timelessness, where warm timber plays against the crisp plaster walls and furniture sits comfortably for family activities. Baliol Residence sees Grieve Gillett Anderson Architects bring a contemporary crispness to the home’s milieu, adding both an individual and relatable presence amongst its neighbours, executed with precision and a well-honed experience.

Baliol Residence sees Grieve Gillett Anderson Architects bring a contemporary crispness to the home’s milieu, adding both an individual and relatable presence amongst its neighbours, executed with precision and a well-honed experience.