Restraint and Serenity – Malvern by InForm
As classic design principles are applied with confidence, Malvern emerges as a striking modern home. Designed and built by InForm, the minimal dwelling speaks to the timeless connection between restraint and serenity.
Uniting home and landscape, InForm develops Malvern from the ground up. Neither an old dwelling nor an entirely new build, Malvern is the luxurious reimagination of an existing structure. Beneath the home, the land rolls such that the building falls from the rear towards the tree-lined street. Working with the topography, InForm crafts a residence that surpasses its previous iteration in terms of spatial efficiency – featuring a harmonious internal balance of both private and communal zones.
The response to the site includes a series of levels which, aided by a section of undulating landscape, intuitively orders the interior. The lowest level of the home is dedicated to utility spaces – the garage, store, gym and entryway. Residents ascend a half-flight of stairs to reach the ground floor, which features an open plan living, kitchen and dining area seamlessly connected to an outdoor entertainment area and pool. Partially covered by a steel pergola – a portion of which has an operable louvre insert – the BBQ is protected and usable throughout the year.
The adults’ retreat faces east, embracing the morning sun as it looks out over the leafy street. The zone includes a bedroom, walk-in wardrobe, ensuite and television room. The rear of the property then hosts the children’s activity space – under the influence of the sloping site, the room is positioned in line with the natural ground level, enabling the nearby back garden and pool to be easily accessed. The children’s bedrooms and bathroom are then located above, reached via another half-flight of stairs. Expansive glass panels delineate the northern orientation, covered by an operable venetian blind that controls the thermal climate of the interior during the warmer seasons.
Applying visual juxtaposition, InForm ensures a dramatic outcome. Malvern’s façade features light-coloured brickwork supporting dark, metal-clad volumes punctuated by glazing and steelwork. Whilst striking, the colour contrast also establishes a sense of clarity and thus encourages relaxation. Internally, dark window frames draw the gaze towards the natural vistas, emphasised when set against an interior landscape of soft, neutral tones. Within the decorative scheme, a warming, timber-lined wall is subtly highlighted by a wash of soft lighting.
Formed by clean lines and framed views, Malvern embraces the value of simplicity. Defining the home by using a pared-back approach, InForm proposes a residential experience of authentic effortless living.
