A Friendly Undertaking – Hillside House by Tecture
Hillside House by Tecture is a minimally-toned home in Melbourne’s south-east for a growing family, whose relatively closed front façade gives way to open, light-filled spaces.
The project developed in parallel with Tecture as a practice, born out of a Facebook post by founder Ben Robertson announcing that he was starting his own architecture practice in 2015. The clients, who had recently purchased their first house in Caulfield, were seeking a light, durable and functional home. As Ben points out, “Caulfield is a residential suburb which features a mixture of Victorian, mid-century and, in recent times, an abundance of contemporary dwellings. As a result, the homes are quite varied and the architectural context is at times haphazard and uninspiring.” Responding to this somewhat haphazard context, Tecture was not afraid to contrast the home with the surrounding buildings, yet also ensured elements of consistency prevailed. “A minimally toned building was chosen to contrast the cream tones of the adjacent homes, but the two-storey form is a consistent theme of the neighbourhood character,” Ben says.
With the brief requiring a pool and large backyard outside as well as a home with four bedrooms and three living zones on a block less than 600sqm, the house is anchored to the southern boundary, creating a large setback to the north. As a result, what appears as a robust, conservative façade from the streetscape actually opens up to the rear of the house, owing to its linear nature, maximising access to northern light. Ben explains how this, in turn, affected other choices. “As the home’s initial presence features walls on the boundary, we wanted to ensure that upon opening the front door, the presence of light from the sculptural courtyard set the tone.” The double-height stair window fills the entry with light, whilst the living and dining spaces feature a large wall of windows, bathing these communal spaces in a constant glow.
Ben says that “teeming with light and a warm palette, the home evokes the sense of a light-filled gallery.” Knowing that the home would need to cater for a growing family, the material choices reflect the stage of life of the occupants. A minimal palette of light grey and oak hues has been selected throughout; a large stepped island bench is an example of this pragmatic approach, with the lower children’s meals connection not only slotting into the wider design language but ensuring it is durable enough for purpose in a robust Caesarstone. This palette was then continued in the children’s bedrooms and in the living room fireplace. As art enthusiasts, the clients requested adequate wall space and moments of controlled view lines to not only display but celebrate their collection. A commissioned Peter Cole sculpture speaks to this emphasis on art from the outset, taking up a focal point in the small courtyard that greets guests upon entering.
Hillside House by Tecture is a minimally-toned home in Melbourne’s south-east for a growing family.
Hillside House has successfully created a dwelling that is both clean and restrained in its form and materiality. Its abundance of natural light and access to the outdoors is crucial for a young, growing family, whilst the home is large enough to offer versatility as their needs evolve in the years to come. In all, it is a resolved beacon within a matured neighbourhood and straddles the line between family home and gallery showpiece with aplomb.
