Raw Beauty – Malvern House by mckimm

Emphasising connections between inside and out, Malvern House aims to capture the nuances of family life within a robust and raw outer envelope. As architect, interior designer and builder, mckimm has taken a holistic approach, sculpting a myriad of connected spaces through a refined and detailed lens.

Located in Melbourne’s inner-south suburb of the same name, Malvern House exudes a grandness of scale, and matches the proportions of its heritage neighbours while retaining its own individuality. With concrete as the expressed materiality, the modernist-inspired home sits confidently on the site, offering a knowing formality amongst the already established rhythm of the street. While bold in its form and materiality, glazing, openings and landscaping bring balance and visual relief. And this refined design intent continues beyond the threshold, where mckimm has meticulously laboured over each detail of this family home.

Concrete is a robust backdrop to family life; it will withstand the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, and its eventual patina will tell the stories of these times.

Intended to reflect and support modern family life in all its guises, materiality and openness underpin the principles of Malvern House. Concrete is a robust backdrop to family life; it will withstand the hustle and bustle of the day-to-day, and its eventual patina will tell the stories of these times. From the entry, a circular opening signals the direction of the central spine of the home, running lengthways and connecting the internal and external spaces. These key connections and an overall openness allow the home to expand and contract as needed and engage the surrounding landscape as a key element.

Home to a young family of five, the open plan living areas on the ground floor spill effortlessly outward, while ensuring sightlines and visibility are maintained throughout. The architects have created a sense of curiosity and discovery through unexpected elements both inside and out. Frameless windows and glazing in place of traditional thresholds emphasise openness rather than separation and delineation, and polished concrete floors throughout encourage movement and engagement between the spaces. A consistent palette of natural stone, timber joinery and metal detailing elevate the experience and allow for engagement on both an intangible and functional level.

Frameless windows and glazing in place of traditional thresholds emphasise openness rather than separation and delineation, and polished concrete floors throughout encourage movement and engagement between the spaces.

Through an astute attention to detail, mckimm’s Malvern House positions itself as an ideal family home. There is beauty to be found in the materials selection and in the effortless definition of spaces, but mostly in this home’s ability to facilitate the needs of its owners with ease and grace.