Thinking the Modern Home – Kats Cocktail by Meaghan White Architects

Through a creative exploration of materiality and a curious dissection of the inner-city site and its potential, Kats Cocktail sees the creation of two dwellings within the one allotment. Meaghan White Architects brings an inquiring rigor to rethinking the modern home.

As an experiment in redefining the traditional urban residential typology, Kats Cocktail challenges the expected and commonly adopted approach to inner-city living. Through a complete overhaul of the site’s potential, the 400 square metre site east-west aligned allotment was dissected to its comprising parts and emerges as two dwellings. The main terrace house offers a reprise from the busy bustle of the everyday, which then opens up to its light-filled courtyard yard and pool separating it from the studio space at the rear. The added exploration of materials on site, curiously pushing boundaries, creates a sense that each element of this home has been laboured over and every detail considered.

Meaghan White Architects brings an inquiring rigor to rethinking the modern home.

Designed to operate in both unison and independently, the terrace and the studio stand at either ends of the site, each with their own living, preparing, sleeping and bathing zones. They both share access to the rear yard and pool, carparking and storage facilities. After the deliberation of the best use of the site, the delineation of the block into two was obvious for the team. The terrace is the main place of residence for the owners, and the studio acts as a workspace, and also as additional accommodation for guests, family, friends, with further potential to be used as a rental property. This flexibility was key and provides the site with its multitude of functional options.

As an experiment in redefining the traditional urban residential typology, Kats Cocktail challenges the expected and commonly adopted approach to inner-city living.

With the focus of project to maximise the site, the creation of plentiful opportunities for natural elements to engage with the built form was imperative and was achieved through landscaping by Ellenby Tree Farm. Meanwhile, internally Kats Cocktail employs a restrained and purpose-driven palette. Devoid of excess, the resulting materiality speaks to a clarity and boldness, where nuances and subtleties provide pockets of interest and texture. The use of painted brick, timber panelling and iron sheeting are a nod to the neighbourhood and its layered context, and the introduction of concrete offers a more directive boldness to the site. With joinery by Shepardcraft Furniture, the deliberate lack of colour, and instead variation of warmth and texture through contrast allows the home to age and be relevant over time. And, although both dwellings share similarities, their clear distinction of personalities is also evident and expressed.

Designed to operate in both unison and independently, the terrace and the studio stand at either ends of the site, each with their own living, preparing, sleeping and bathing zones.

Through the lens of contextually sensitivity, Meaghan White Architects proposes a rethink of the modern home, with Kat’s Cocktail allowing its owners to use the home in the way that best suits their need. Dismantling the traditional, the project offers a more considered use of its urban site.