Part Home, Part Gallery – Hawthorn East by Melanie Beynon and Megan Hounslow
As part gallery, part home, the foundations from which Hawthorn East are built needed to embody an innate flexibility and become a chameleon of sorts. Designed in collaboration between Melanie Beynon and Megan Hounslow, the transformation of an existing 1930s home into a relevant and timeless iteration is the result of a clear and mindful approach.
In order to bring the home into a sensible and relevant iteration of itself, the inherited and wearied bones of the original home in Hawthorn East were in much need of revitalisation and attention. Located amongst similar vintage and generously scaled homes, maintaining and preserving that resulting sense of character and history was crucial, while also creating an individual home that resonated with the client. Home to the owner of a high-end contemporary fine art loan company, the brief for the home was part gallery, part residence – allowing for a changing rotation of artwork as needed. In amongst the changing elements, the home also needed to retain its connection to heritage and the inherent crafted character. Designed in collaboration between Melanie Beynon and Megan Hounslow (formally of practice Meme), the resulting home combines a nod to its storied past, while presenting itself as a time-wearing contemporary and relevant home.
The spirit of the home’s 1930s origins is brought through into the select furniture and lighting, which become the complements to a playful roster of ever-changing artworks. The added moveable elements imbue personality and colour amongst the muted backdrop, while sitting within the vein of the aesthetic of the home. Removing the existing 1980s ill-fitting renovation was the initial step in uncovering the gems that lay beneath and replacing them with elements of considered purpose that also bring a level of convenience and sense of openness. The resulting spaces are warmed and unified through the timber flooring and made to feel more generous with consistent colour, while quality and hardwearing stone features act elevated tactile touchpoints.
The focus on being enduring and time-wearing was key for the new works within the home. Both in the celebration of the home’s past but also in the conjuring of an appropriate springboard for the future to unfold from, the resulting approach needed to be unphased by time and trends. Spread over two levels, the generous home affords lofty interior ceilings and formally arranged planning, providing the inspiration for the select materiality and palette. The use of white and similar toned greys allows the spaces to come together, while also not distracting from the existing crafted features and allowing the quality of the handmade to be celebrated and showcased.
The collaboration between the two architects sees Hawthorn East revitalised through an injection of colour and welcomed crispness, carving an ideal foundation for the rotating artworks to further animate and occupy the home over time.
