Casa Apertura
Guided by the Japanese concept of ma, Biasol Studio has transformed a typical Melbourne terrace into Casa Apertura, a home defined by stillness, balance and light.
Set within the historic streets of Rathdowne Village, Casa Apertura is a lovingly restored terrace home transformed with a bright, modern interior. Once constrained by low light and compressed volumes, the house now reflects the aspirations of its owners, a young family of four, who “wanted something that felt open, light-filled, calm and enduring,” says Jean-Pierre Biasol, founder and director of Biasol Studio.
The homeowners’ brief centred on high ceilings, abundant natural light and a residence the family can grow into. “That aligned closely with our approach for Casa Apertura: creating a home shaped by clarity and restraint, where space supports everyday life in a quiet, considered way.”
Recognising the owners’ appreciation for a minimal yet highly functional style, the design of Casa Apertura was also influenced by the Japanese concept of ma. Expressed through negative space, clean lines and the home’s peaceful beauty, ma is, as Biasol explains, “about the space between things – the pause that allows the architecture and interiors to feel calm and resolved. In this project, it translates into restraint: essential geometry and an emphasis on proportion rather than decoration.”
The dialogue between old and new remained central to the planning, with heritage and modern elements handled with restraint to ensure cohesion and flow. The front of the home, including the facade and original rooms, was carefully restored to reflect its 1870s character, while beyond that, the house unfolds into a contemporary ground-floor extension and an additional upper level.
The layout is tailored to family life, with kitchen, dining and living spaces opening onto outdoor areas on the ground floor, while bedrooms, including a primary suite, are positioned upstairs. Dividing the plan into three zones allowed Biasol Studio to draw light deep into the home, where the central staircase acts as a vertical light well beneath north- and south-facing skylights. This balance of light through apertures shapes the experience of the home and ultimately gave Casa Apertura its name. “In the morning, you get soft eastern light coming into the kitchen and living spaces – it feels energising,” Biasol says. “Then, throughout the day, the light shifts through the skylights and central void, becoming more diffused and ambient.”
While light isn’t the home’s only defining feature, it was certainly one of the project’s greatest challenges. “We approached it through a series of apertures – skylights, a central light well and a more open rear volume,” Biasol says, which allows light to move through the home in a controlled yet natural way. This considered approach enhances the architecture while aligning with the project’s broader philosophy of balance.
A sense of stillness and balance is carried through the material palette, joinery and spatial planning, which work together without any single hero feature. Instead, light and interior elements sit cohesively as one. Grey joinery grounds the palette, while white marble and pale oak flooring bring lightness. Accents of black steel and reeded glass add interesting detail and textural depth. “Each material plays a role, but none dominate; it’s about balance and creating a space that feels composed.”
