A Light Touch – Sanctuary House by DX Architects

Taking cues from the surrounding established silhouettes, Sanctuary House combines a contemporary approach with a respectful nod to context. DX Architects focuses on opening and encouraging light inward to propose a series of connected volumes that deliberately feel lofted and generous.

Sitting amongst the growing residential fabric of Yarraville, in Melbourne’s inner west, Sanctuary House takes the metaphor of the home as a place of escape quite literally. Through the select materiality and engagement with natural elements, extended volumes allow for a resounding calm to fill the various spaces of the home. Amongst its established and emerging neighbours, respectfully the new home sits as a modest two-story addition comfortably in place. Although not of heritage significance itself, by referencing the existing scale and silhouette proportion of those nods to the past already established within the streetscape, the response feels appropriate. Openness and connection are key defining principles of the resulting home, where even corridors have been eliminated to avoid both the redundant floor space and the internal segregation that naturally occurs. DX Architects focuses on ensuring elements of the familiar are combined with a transporting feeling of separation from the outside world.

Through the select materiality and engagement with natural elements, extended volumes allow for a resounding calm to fill the various spaces of the home.

Sanctuary House is founded on an introspective core and draws focus inward. Built by Madeform, the careful and considered integration amongst the surrounding landscape further adds to the idea of escape. The palette takes on a muted and natural tonality, drawing from an organic base and adding in elements for texture and depth. Externally, the overall mass is broken down into both masonry and timber clad forms, which are then broken up by regular shaped glazing and their associated metal framework. Internally, a warm and light approach is adopted, bringing in some timber elements, however, through a more refined and lightened manner.

Spread over its two levels, there is a sense of journey and discovery as the home transitions more from a closed series of spaces at the front to more open and permeable at the rear. White brick work and pale timbers are used to complement one another and add a diversity in finish. Engagement with light also plays a large part in the calming feeling created within the home. The insertion of higher-level windows and a dramatic void above the living area both draws the eye upward when inside, while also bringing in light from above, deep into the space. Curved elements then further soften transitions and guide light, adding a sculptural touch in the process.

Spread over its two levels, there is a sense of journey and discovery as the home transitions more from a closed series of spaces at the front to more open and permeable at the rear.

Modest and light, Sanctuary House seeks to transport and heal its occupants. Through the building’s strong connection to the natural and controlled openness, DX Architects has achieved this aim and more.