Prestige and Tradition – Larnook by Lowe Living
Honouring the traditions of prestige, architectural splendour and botanical beauty exemplified by Larnook Mansion, Lowe Living’s Larnook Armadale is a series of 11 luxuriously appointed two- and three-bedroom residences. Celebrating the affluence, lifestyle and history of Melbourne’s Armadale, Lowe Living maximised the opportunity to create a unique response to the site by partnering with industry leaders Warren and Mahoney, GOLDEN and Eckersley Garden Architecture.
Just a short stroll from the convenience and amenity of High Street, Hawksburn Village and Toorak Village, Larnook commemorates the affluence of the Armadale lifestyle. With tree-lined streets and impressive gardens designating the locale, Lowe Living sought to achieve a timeless elegance within the brief. The façade expresses itself through materials and fine details that nod to its namesake, the nearby Larnook Mansion – a splendid example of 19th-century Italianate architecture. Lightly shaded renders and brickwork playfully interact with architectural screen detailing in dark charcoals. Cascading greenery contextualises these two contrasting palettes, as deep hues of green pay tribute to Armadale’s leafy character. From street level, the ground floor disappears behind lush planters that soften the built form in synergy with surrounding mature trees.
The privacy and seclusion provided by the immense trees and landscaping becomes more demonstrative as one enters the residences. Dappled light dances across the living spaces, themselves an exercise in retreat and refuge. Lowe Living Managing Director Tim Lowe explains that the open-planned living is made easy thanks to the refined craftsmanship and textural beauty in each apartment. “Larnook Armadale represents the splendour of the site’s historical legacy in architectural proportion, scale and materiality.” Pale oak flooring, natural stone, bespoke joinery and integrated kitchen appliances combine to emphasise the sense of luxury imbued at Larnook. Unsurpassed in the sense of opulence on offer, however, is the three-bedroom penthouse. Here, two living areas, a hidden bar, private study and stoneclad fireplace reinforce its luxury appointment and entertainer’s credentials. Unique to the penthouse is engineered timber chevron flooring in European oak – a timeless, classic finish.
The historical significance of the site is a theme revisited by Warren and Mahoney’s Principal Architect Nick Deans, who posits that “using Larnook Mansion – of which Larnook Street is now named – as a catalyst, architectural elements have been reimagined in a contemporary manner to allow the integration of the building into the broader suburban context.” If the structure and materiality of the building seeks to honour the luxurious heritage context that Larnook sits within today, then the interiors are about encapsulating that same sentiment for contemporary everyday living. “Exquisite artisan finish is on show in each residence at Larnook,” explains GOLDEN Director Alicia McKimm. “When you enter, you are really stepping into a private haven for the modern lifestyle.”
Respectfully nodding to the storied past of its locale whilst catering to the needs of 21st century living, Larnook Armadale once more demonstrates Lowe Living’s ability to develop exemplary private residences across some of Melbourne’s most aspirational neighbourhoods. By bringing Warren and Mahoney, GOLDEN and Eckersley Garden Architecture together, Lowe Living has ensured that the building will stand for decades as a beacon, much like the nearby mansion its façade discreetly references.
