Rosshire by Ali Kaddour Architects

Just around the corner from Glenn Murcutt’s Australian Islamic Centre in Melbourne’s west, Rosshire is a family home designed with clarity and care. For Newport-based Ali Kaddour Architects, the brief was less about making a statement and more about creating a space that supports the client’s lifestyle – one deeply connected to faith, family and community.

The client, who regularly hosts family, friends and colleagues from all walks of life, needed a flexible home that could comfortably shift between intimate and social, private and public. Entrusting Ali Kaddour Architects and the builder Zeid Projects to collaborate closely, they sought a residence that would serve both everyday living and larger gatherings with ease.

The residence supports faith and family in equal measure, offering quiet places for reflection and prayer within a modern, adaptable layout.

The client’s trust is something Ali Kaddour Architects has built its reputation on. Whether designing homes or commercial spaces, the team approaches each project with a clear philosophy: creativity is the most valuable tool, regardless of budget or constraints. Rosshire reflects this ethos. Reflecting the client’s Arab-Muslim heritage, the residence supports faith and family in equal measure, offering quiet places for reflection and prayer within a modern, adaptable layout.

Religious architecture has long embraced light as a symbol of the divine. In mosques, churches and temples alike, light filters through intricate windows and apertures, creating moments of reflection and awe. At Rosshire, this tradition finds quiet expression through abundant skylights and carefully placed openings. Natural light is drawn deep into the plan, illuminating circulation spaces and shifting gently across surfaces throughout the day. It sets a soothing rhythm, infusing the interiors with a sense of calm – an atmosphere that feels grounded, elevated and deeply personal.

Each room at Rosshire flows naturally into the next, with every space designed for a specific purpose – or with flexibility in mind.

Each room at Rosshire flows naturally into the next, with every space designed for a specific purpose – or with flexibility in mind. Quiet areas for reflection sit alongside generous communal zones, while large sliding doors allow public spaces to be closed off when needed, offering moments of calm within a busy household.

From the street, Rosshire presents as both solid and subtle, with a sense of scale and balance that feels intentional without ever being theatrical. A concealed entry to the guest suite and formal lounge gently guides visitors toward the main door – a deliberate gesture of welcome.

Built around the needs of its residents, Rosshire feels personal yet quietly universal.

Inside, materials are simple, honest and enduring. Colour brings warmth to the shared spaces, while lighting is used thoughtfully – drawing focus to key areas and creating softness in others. Take the deep green, for example – chosen for its sense of tranquillity. It provides a fitting backdrop for one of the home’s most playful features: a suspended net platform and reading nook that invites pause and retreat.

Built around the needs of its residents, Rosshire feels personal yet quietly universal. More than just an exercise in aesthetics, the home was thoughtfully designed to flex with the rhythms of its owner’s life.

Architecture and interior design by Ali Kaddour Architects. Build by Zeid Projects. Landscape design by Paul Alexander Landscape. Surfaces by Laminex. Appliances by Fisher & Paykel. Stone and tiles by Signorino. Timber flooring by Made by Storey.