Gather House
Home to a family of five, Gather House by ROAN Group is an abode shaped by the habitual footprints of family life while embracing the elegance of its heritage origins.
Located in Melbourne’s established coastal suburb of St. Kilda, Gather House strikes a careful balance to withstand the rigours of family life while ageing beautifully over time. One of the key design challenges for ROAN Group was finding the balance between two seemingly opposing aesthetics: minimalism and timelessness. The house’s original Edwardian facade retains a strong sense of character. Rather than imposing a wholly new architectural language upon the existing home, the design carefully preserves its character while introducing spaces that encourage connection and retreat.
A custom steel door leads to a series of communal spaces designed to bring the family together to play, cook and relax – an open kitchen, dining and living space overlooking the expansive backyard, pool and pickleball court. A spiral staircase connects to the main suite above, creating a retreat that feels both luxurious and cosy. Below, the basement adds another layer of flexibility for the family and guests. While each bedroom was designed to reflect the individual personality of its occupant, consistent joinery detailing and a restrained material palette ensure the spaces feel connected to the broader design language of the home.
Located within an existing loft-style space, the parents’ retreat initially lacked the sense of intimacy the clients were seeking. Through careful planning and a considered material palette, the room now serves as a place for the parents to unwind and disconnect from the demands of daily life, offering a quiet sense of calm above the activity of the family home below. The children’s bedrooms are positioned within the original heritage portion of the home and celebrate many of the property’s most beautiful architectural features. Existing fireplaces, soaring ceilings, detailed cornices and generous skirting boards provide a rich sense of history and character.
A spiral staircase connects to the main suite above, creating a retreat that feels both luxurious and cosy.
The palette of the house is neutral and timeless, but never plain. The clients’ love of unique fashion and design is reflected through unexpected combinations of texture, pattern and form. Durability and ease of maintenance were central throughout the selection process. Robust surfaces such as terrazzo, natural stone and timber were selected for longevity and appeal. The clients were drawn to the calm and simplicity of contemporary design but also wanted a home that felt warm, enduring and connected to the character of the original Edwardian residence.
Gather House remains grounded in tradition and the nuances of the family. The design process became a fine dance between minimalism and traditional aesthetics, selecting materials, finishes and details that felt timeless in nature while still reflecting the clients’ appreciation for modern design. Rather than following trends, the project focuses on longevity, ensuring it will continue to serve and evolve with its owners for many years to come. The result is a home that feels intuitive and effortless, where spaces transition naturally from one to the next.
