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Brighton Residence by Squillace
A 1990s neo-Georgian building in Melbourne has been transformed into a contemporary abode that responds to the locale’s climate and pristine surroundings.
From afar, Brighton Residence’s geometric, zinc-clad structure seems to hover above the sprawling landscaping of the adjoining park. Beyond the initial surprise of its robust and hardy form, one would never guess on closer inspection the different dimensions and many layers within. Neighbouring both parkland and coast, the property sits on what is fondly known as Melbourne’s ‘Golden Mile’, which houses an eclectic collection of beautiful homes with no predominant style and offers sweeping views over Port Phillip Bay to the city skyline. “Given there were no direct cues, we chose to do a contemporary dwelling very much focused on orientation and function for the client,” says Vince Squillace, director at Squillace. “From the street, you see a charcoal stone fence and then a box that hovers above glazing, so it sort of breaks the mass down into layers of horizontal stratification.”
The brief called for the adaptive reuse of the original dwelling while taking into consideration the existing strong masonry and concrete structure. “The first card of the brief was alterations and additions. A lot of what’s there is original building fabric from the 1990s, and in terms of concrete slabs and structure, we were able to keep 50 per cent of the existing structure,” says Squillace.
The clients’ lifestyle and interests were catered for at Brighton Residence with the incorporation of a tennis court and space for entertaining, as well as an expansive space for vehicles and visitor parking. “We created the parking area as a column-free basement space using huge precast concrete planks that can span distances of 12 to 15 metres. On top of this is the tennis court, so it was purposeful, too.”
Given the brief, sustainability, orientation and functionality are inherently key to the design. “There is this idea that you may as well knock buildings down unless they’re heritage because it will essentially cost more to keep, but when a building does have a substantial amount of masonry, there is a sustainability aspect to keeping a lot of the structure,” says Squillace. Beyond keeping much of the original form, three existing date palms were saved and relocated elsewhere on the site. “We sent them to a nursery during construction before bringing them back in and strategically placing them where they contribute not only to the house but also to the public realm.”
The suspended box-like structure provides shade to the living spaces, while a wraparound balcony conceals the bedrooms housed within it from the sun. Squillace describes how “there are also hidden retractable louvres, so that if it’s really sunny, the louvres can provide shade. And they are on a wind sensor, so if it is too windy, they automatically come up.”
The dwelling’s robust material palette is grounded in timelessness and durability.
Given Melbourne’s temperamental climate, the Squillace team made integral additions to manage the city’s unpredictable weather patterns. A pavilion allows for flexibility to be outdoors yet quickly retreat if the temperature suddenly drops. “The pavilion has stackable sliding glass doors and even has a fireplace out there, so you still feel like you’re outside even though you’re in a protected environment.” Brighton Residence utilises hydraulic heating, using water to warm the thermal mass of the house.
The dwelling’s robust material palette is grounded in timelessness and durability. For the facade, “we chose zinc cladding instead of timber as we wanted a lightweight second-floor addition and a material that won’t corrode, warp or need constant maintenance,” says Squillace. Similarly, black matte window frames that are stylistically “never fully in and never fully out” are complemented by a render finish favoured over paint. “We put the pigmentation inside the render and chose a highly elastic render material so that the colour patinas over time and does not require repainting.” Inside, travertine, walnut timber veneer and Calacatta marble harmonise beautifully with minimalist details – such as the discreet stairs coming up from the basement – for a refined, timeless elegance.
Walking through Brighton Residence’s many rooms, the layers slowly reveal themselves. “You wouldn’t know looking from the outside that there was this subterranean life inside,” says Squillace. The experience feels both dark and moody yet opulent and warm. “The juxtaposition of the expanses of glass and quite often, the gloomy sky, with the warmth of the material palette and the ambient temperature inside creates a sense of reprieve from the harsh elements outside.” Hovering overhead, Brighton Residence is a spectacle to look at and a pleasure to spend time in. The team at Squillace reveals the power of combining existing elements with considered additions to usher in something that feels entirely new.
Architecture and interior design by Squillace. Build by Salvo Property Group. Landscape design by Jack Merlo. Tiles by Signorino. Appliances by Gaggenau.
