Natural Evolution – Harkaway Residence by Studio del Castillo

A Mediterranean-style home with expansive views over Melbourne’s CBD, Harkaway Residence is updated to align with a contemporary lifestyle. Studio del Castillo focuses on authenticity at the core of the new works, ensuring they feel like a natural extension of the existing.

Home to a growing family, Harkaway House is renovated with a focus on flexibility. In its design, the renovation ensures chosen finishes and materiality can withstand the knocks of everyday life without compromising on aesthetics or function. Celebrating the original Mediterranean style, the revised approach ensures a continuance of quality, crafted detailing and an emphasis on social spaces. Studio del Castillo retains the integrity of the original structure in proposing the modern additions and amendments.

Celebrating the original Mediterranean style, the revised approach ensures a continuance of quality, crafted detailing and an emphasis on social spaces.

Starting with a fresh canvas, the team was tasked with sourcing new furniture and fittings, each needing to connect to the home’s functionality and intended lifestyle. Looking to a European influence, selections of heightened quality were important – solid timber, aged brass, timber veneer, silk and wool fibres, Italian leather and European stone combined to continue an already established narrative of longevity. Whilst the spaces are new creations, Studio del Castillo brings a richness through layering a selection of artwork, furniture and lighting to allow the home’s original bones to remain prevalent.

With generous openings dotted throughout, the interior connects with the outdoor landscaped areas with intention. A connection to the outdoors facilitates natural ventilation and light and introduces an ease of indoor-outdoor living. Having been drawn to the extensive entertaining areas, the owners wanted to ensure a lifestyle of socialisation could remain alongside family life. The four-bedroom home integrates a study, grand entrance hall, kitchen butler’s pantry, pool cabana, gym, basketball court and dedicated pizza oven and BBQ areas. With views reaching out over the city of Melbourne and accompanying sunset views, maintaining sightlines from all possible angles was effortless.

Studio del Castillo retains the integrity of the original structure in proposing the modern additions and amendments.

Able to expand and contract as needed, Harkaway Residence combines the intimacy of a family home with the open generosity of a keen entertainer. Studio del Castillo aims to respectfully integrate nods to the home’s heritage within the new insertions and ensures an optimisation of the surrounds with everyday life.