M Residence
A refined interplay of heritage and modernity, M Residence by Paul Conrad Architects unites sculptural form, material restraint and enduring calm within a thoughtfully reimagined Toorak home.
Anchored in the enduring charm of 1930s Melbourne architecture, M Residence presents a considered reworking of a duplex originally conceived by renowned Australian architect Marcus Martin. With a vision grounded in restraint and reverence, the transformation navigates the delicate intersection between preservation and progression, resulting in a cohesive home that speaks fluently in both heritage and modern design languages.
Sitting discreetly along a tree-lined street in Toorak, the residence is defined by an intentional duality. The original interwar art deco structure remains intact, showcasing Martin’s signature details – corbelled wall openings, period cornices and timber-framed, double-hung windows. In counterpoint, a new volume emerges, defined by sculptural brickwork, a restrained palette and a commanding zinc-clad portal signalling the architectural shift between past and present.
“Our approach was intentionally restrained to emphasise the beauty of the interior architecture and the quality of light,” notes Paul Conrad, director of Paul Conrad Architects. “We wanted to foster a sense of calm throughout the spaces.”
The client, a design aficionado known online as The Curiae, brought an informed and ambitious brief. With a personal aesthetic shaped by brutalism, European modernism and visual design research, he sought more than a renovation – the home was envisioned to balance elegance with simplicity, heritage and day-to-day function. Drawing from the client’s desire for “a modernised yet relaxed” living space, the interiors unfold through a subdued palette of linen sheers, a new minimal kitchen clad in Calacatta Viola marble and discerning lighting by Apparatus and Serge Mouille.
Central to the home’s architectural narrative is the tactile double-height foyer. Bathed in light from a linear skylight, the soaring brick walls reveal texture and tone throughout the day, a quiet interplay of shadow and substance.
The objective was to update the interiors while preserving the maisonette’s heritage character,” explains Paul, “but also to create a home that balances aesthetic appeal with functional living.”
Transitions between old and new are choreographed with purpose. A timber step at the threshold into the updated new form subtly shifts proportion, marking both spatial and conceptual change. Throughout, proportion and materiality are key – whether in the tactile facade composed of varied brick widths and patterns or the sculptural finesse of the restored original staircase.
M Residence doesn’t shout for attention. Instead, it achieves a level of thoughtful, layered and luxuriously understated richness. It is, at its core, a home shaped by light, history, warmth and the quiet confidence of timeless elegance.
Architecture and interior design by Paul Conrad Architects. Build by Bacchus Constructions. Landscape design by Eckersley Garden Architecture. Timber flooring by Royal Oak Floors. Tapware by Astra Walker. Appliances by Gaggenau. Artwork by Terri Brooks, Teelah George, Brent Harris and Debbey Watson.
