Hawthorn House by Michael Mckeon Architecture

Nestled within the verdant streets of Hawthorn, this two-storey residence by Michael Mckeon Architects is a masterclass in restraint and thoughtful composition.

Designed with a considered material palette and a calibrated sense of space and light, Hawthorn House demonstrates how thoughtful architecture can create a dialogue between built form and the natural environment. The street facade contrasts the archetypal cues of a suburban Melbourne home, where minimal black timber cladding and brick exterior create a sophisticated and contemporary street presence. This connection to context is further emphasised at the first floor, where carefully framed views of surrounding treetops bring the leafy neighbourhood context into the daily experience of the home.

Upon entering, the residence reveals a carefully orchestrated interplay of light and shadow through strategically placed skylights, creating an ever-changing canvas.

Upon entering, the residence reveals a carefully orchestrated interplay of light and shadow through strategically placed skylights, creating an ever-changing canvas. Light plays a vital role, actively engaging with the spaces and creating a sense of softness. The open-plan configuration might appear straightforward, yet the subtle variations in ceiling heights and the precise positioning of openings reveal a nuanced understanding of spatial hierarchy.

Materiality plays a key role in fostering the home’s cohesive atmosphere. A masterful balance of natural materials, such as timber and stone, contributes to its calm atmosphere and tactile interest. The use of brick, both inside and out, strengthens the connection to place, while linen curtains and timber floors provide warmth and contrast against the dark joinery in the primary bedroom. In the connecting ensuite, floor-to-ceiling stone grounds the space in natural materiality.

A masterful balance of natural materials, such as timber and stone, contributes to its calm atmosphere and tactile interest.

Through a nuanced engagement with materiality, natural light and the environment, Michael McKeon Architects has delivered a home that is as much about its surroundings as it is about the occupants – one where minimalism and sophistication exist in perfect harmony.

Architecture by Michael Mckeon Architecture. Build by Frank. Landscape design by Vogue Grange and J.M Landscape Architects.