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The Boulevard by Archier
Conceived as a subterranean retreat, The Boulevard defies conventional constructs with a design that is almost entirely enveloped by its natural surroundings.
Archier’s concept for The Boulevard cleverly leverages the surrounding landscape, preserving and dramatically showcasing the expansive views of the Yarra Flats parklands. Artfully concealed, the house offers passers-by a rare vantage point, marking a refreshing departure from the typically obtrusive residential forms found on the street.
“Our clients were drawn to the site for its natural beauty and proximity to the Yarra Flats,” explains Chris Gilbert, Archier’s director of design. “They envisioned a home where their children could grow up with a deep appreciation for nature while still being close to the city.” Inspired by these aspirations, the team orchestrated a design that weaves environmental sensitivity into the architecture.
Descending from the garage and rooftop guest parking area, the site unfolds through an elegantly landscaped path marked by a stone channel water feature, arriving at a window-lined entry hall that offers immediate immersion into the picturesque parkland setting. The heart of the home is to the left: a kitchen with dual island benchtops that transitions seamlessly into the living and dining areas. An internal courtyard accentuates the space with natural light, extending up to a roof garden where a tall gum tree stands sentinel.
To the right of the entry, a hallway leads to a private family wing, anchoring the primary bedroom and rumpus room on the main level, with stairs leading to the children’s bedrooms below. This layout is designed to accommodate evolving family dynamics, offering enhanced independence as the children grow. Notably, this wing extends outward, with a gabled roof that playfully interprets a child’s idea of a house.
Archier encouraged its clients to embrace a compact yet efficient floor plan to reduce The Boulevard’s impact and cost. This strategic choice aligns with the project’s overarching sustainability goals, where every element is sympathetically designed to minimise its environmental footprint. Collaboration with TGA Engineers and Resicon proved crucial, ensuring that every structural challenge was effectively addressed to maintain the integrity and vision of the design.
The structure is securely anchored into the hillside with robust concrete, chosen for its stability and thermal mass, which also significantly contributes to passive heating during the cooler months. This is paired with natural slate cladding, selected for its durability and minimal maintenance needs. “We aimed to select materials that would enable the home to endure through generations,” explains Gilbert. “The passive strategies play a pivotal role in reducing the building’s operational energy demands and across varying seasonal conditions.”
This ethos extends inside the dwelling, where low-VOC materials and raw finishes preserve the architectural vision. Ceilings of unfinished American oak add warmth and texture, while earthen render acts as the primary wall finish, echoing The Boulevard’s naturalistic design. Additionally, BINQ windows made from thermally broken timber complement the material palette, boosting energy efficiency and facilitating passive cooling with crossflow ventilation.
Continuing this focus on thoughtful interior planning, the layout fosters both interaction and privacy. The communal areas are designed with openness and flow to encourage gathering, while intimate spaces offer tranquil retreats for relaxation and reflection. On the lower floor, which houses the children’s bedrooms, natural cork flooring transforms the hallway into a play area that connects effortlessly to an open laundry at the base of the stairs. Sarah Trotter consulted on the interior finishes, ensuring that every detail complements the overall design ethos.
Ben Scott Garden Design played an important role in integrating the Yarra Flats’ native vegetation into the project, with cascading planting that drapes from the rooftop garden, immersing the house in greenery while dappled light filters through. The home’s green roofs contribute both aesthetically and functionally, enhancing insulation and managing stormwater as one of the many sustainable urban development practices implemented throughout the design. The landscape has been intentionally designed as a core element of The Boulevard’s experience, deeply enriching the connection to the natural world. Reflecting on the transformative impact of their surroundings, the client says, “we now have a beautiful home that connects us to the parkland that lays beyond. The children spill from the house into the yard seamlessly. They are immersed in nature from every room, providing a great calming effect.”
Further integrating with the environment, large expanses of glazing and strategically placed courtyards feature throughout, essential in maximising natural light and ensuring that views of the verdant outdoors are framed in almost every room.
Complementing this, a cornerstone of the home is the integration of indoor and outdoor entertainment spaces, facilitated by sliding glass panels that effectively dissolve the boundaries between inside and out. “Biophilic design principles are at the heart of the project, enhancing the wellbeing of its users by creating a profound connection with the natural environment,” says Gilbert.
The Boulevard strategically utilises its compact and efficient design to strengthen its connection with its location. This four-bedroom house not only provides a serene living environment just 20 minutes from the city, but it also shows how structures can gracefully integrate with the natural environment. “It’s always humbling to create a successful home for a family,” says Gilbert. “We’re proud to have given them a home for this and future generations that is very sensitive to the street.”
Architecture by Archier. Interior design by Sarah Trotter. Build by Resicon Master Builders. Landscape design by Ben Scott Garden Design. Landscaping by Greener Visions. Engineered flooring by Tongue & Groove. Tiles supplied by Artedomus. Windows by BINQ Windows.
