Luna House by Leeton Pointon Architects

Stepping inside Luna House signals an immediate departure from the everyday. It is a home of unexpected encounters – surprising curves combine with an abundance of greenery, dramatic colours and contrasting textures. With a brief to design a functional and timeless family home, Leeton Pointon Architects decided to look through a distinctive lens, creating a home that flows seamlessly, feels playful yet calm and looks high-end yet is robust and durable.

Located in a leafy suburb south-east of Melbourne, Luna House is not typical of the contemporary homes found lining the residential streets. “The front fence has been removed and this opens up the house and its surrounding verdant landscape to the street,” says Michael Leeton, director at Leeton Pointon Architects.

The dwelling immediately draws one in with its striking organic and sculptural form while also boasting many sustainable integrations hidden from plain sight.

The dwelling immediately draws one in with its striking organic and sculptural form while also boasting many sustainable integrations hidden from plain sight. “After the demolition, all of the existing materials from the house were actually recycled,” says Leeton. Other integrations include passive ventilation, acoustic and thermal insulation, concealed solar panels, underground water tanks, thermal massing and LED lighting.

Once inside, Luna House feels calm and soft. A strong sense of connection between the indoors and outdoors is key to creating this mood. The first floor offers carefully curated views of the garden, with glass windows replacing walls, while open living spaces allow the outdoors to play a part indoors. “An open ground-floor plan really exploits the site’s landscape aspect,” says Leeton. “This is then enhanced by the outdoor living area that sits just adjacent to the kitchen and meals area.” Meanwhile, sheer linen curtains and twig screens invite soft dappled light into the home and add a layer of privacy without completely closing off the interiors of the home to the environment beyond.

Mirroring the way the landscape and interiors blend together, the sinuous quality of Luna House nurtures a sense of effortless flow, offering a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Mirroring the way the landscape and interiors blend together, the sinuous quality of Luna House nurtures a sense of effortless flow, offering a reprieve from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. “A double-height void with a sculptural staircase serves as a dramatic anchor to the house, separating the internal program from social spaces downstairs to the private areas upstairs,” says Leeton. The parents and children’s areas are logically in separate zones, while hallways gradually widen to reveal communal living areas. The way each room moves to the next – the way spaces feel generous and open, with zoning allowing a sense of intimacy – creates a home designed for a family, offering opportunities for connection as well as alone time. “These sensitively considered spatial relationships nurture the fluid ebb and flow of modern Australian family life.”

The home’s organic character also adds to the atmosphere of repose and reflection. Curved polished plaster walls add depth and texture, complemented by tactile surfaces. A natural oxide render is used for the facade, while a timber laminate by Duropal and a custom-made stone table add a raw edge to the kitchen. “It’s actually laminate, but you’d never know.” Soft tones embody a sense of peace and stillness, encouraging the family to slow down when they are at home. “Light filters throughout and constantly changes during the day, which creates this kind of synergy within the house that I think is palpable,” says Leeton. “It is subtle and understated in a quiet way to provide a backdrop to busy family life.”

“These sensitively considered spatial relationships nurture the fluid ebb and flow of modern Australian family life.”

Sophisticated yet playful furnishings and interiors by CJH Studio add a bit of fun to proceedings. Challenging the notion that family homes should be safe and practical with nothing too precious, Leeton Pointon Architects uses striking furniture that is bold and daring, encouraging those within to relax and play. The stone table in the kitchen is accompanied by classic Cassina Indochine chairs, tying in nicely with the Baxter couch and armchairs in the formal living area. Statement pieces such as the Faye Toogood Puffball freestanding lamp in the hallway and a pink onyx freestanding stone basin in the bathroom add focal points of excitement in traditionally practical zones.

Leeton Pointon Architects beautifully bridges the divide between the artistic and the functional needs of family living. “Luna House was conceived as an enduring project that transcends time or trends,” says Leeton. The result is an unexpected everyday refuge– a home that is designed to be lived in but also feels like a retreat.

Architecture by Leeton Pointon Architects. Interior design by Leeton Pointon Architects and CJH Studio. Build by LBA Construction Group. Landscape design by Myles Baldwin Design.