An Open Balance – Toorak River Penthouse by Skulptur Architecture
Capturing its engulfing views, Toorak River Penthouse sits atop a series of well-located homes and opens up previous zones with rich and considered layering. Skulptur Architecture draws inspiration from the surrounding natural aspect to create a balanced and internal calm.
Located in its namesake, Toorak River Penthouse is a matched fit for its elevated and generous positioning. Operable façade elements allow the surrounding treetops to feel as though they are an extension of the home. Originally build in the 1990s, the previous structure came with the inherited planning of its time, where formality and separation were a priority over openness. Integrating a contemporary sensibility started with connecting the home and its occupants, creating opportunities for visual and flowing movement throughout the day. With such rare access to natural greenery, it would have been a lost opportunity to not capture its closeness. Skulptur Architecture draws in references to context in subtle ways to craft a linear and restrained home.
Whilst the main works were contained to the interior, the existing architecture is able to be celebrated as a marker of its time while the new insertions appear bolder as they take up occupancy and articulate the floor plan. The living room is now the heart of the home – a reflection of how we live today. In its connection to the surrounding landscape, the space feels even larger than it is and engages beyond its bounding walls. The northern aspect is embraced in the new configuration, allowing the space to feel naturally lit and climatically comfortable.
A mostly monochromatic palette is used throughout, forming a timeless base for the home. Contrasting elements sit side-by-side as a balance to one another, adding a textural diversity in the process. Dark timber warms the space while smooth and expressive natural stone elevates the everyday. The entrance lobby sees limestone set the tone for the home, along with the introduction of curved elements from the onset – the Yarra and its curves were a source of inspiration for the penthouse. In its calmness and slow movement, the river setting forms the ideal backdrop for a place to retreat to and be recharged by. There is an interwoven Japanese element to the sense of movement and consequent journey through spaces, opening up and revealing the view along the way.
