Articulated and Textured – Victoria & Burke by Carr

Set on a prime corner in leafy Camberwell, in Melbourne’s east, Victoria & Burke responds to both the natural elements and existing built forms that define its context. In designing the medium-density insertion in an area known for its stately homes and large allotments, Carr breaks down the mass to create a building that is sensitive in scale and proportion.

With an established gum tree growing at the most prominent corner of the site, Carr designed Victoria & Burke such that the building and tree now sit side-by-side in harmony, the tree occupying the primary position. Further reducing the visual imposition of the architecture in recognition of the surrounding neighbourhood, which is comprised of predominantly low-rise standalone period homes, a series of vertical and horizontal bands combine with considered openings to create a sense of balance and harmony.

The restraint in the palette and the refinement of the detailing quietens the spaces and reinforces that they are removed and also protected from the public realm.

The predominantly masonry façade nods to the nearby Californian bungalows with their textured stucco finish, while a lighter, thinner pro-file of metal banding and bladed feature inserts act as a counterpoint. Internally, an opposite approach is engaged, with fewer materials used and an overall sense of lightness. The restraint in the palette and the refinement of the detailing quietens the spaces and reinforces that they are removed and also protected from the public realm.

Building many homes where traditionally just one would have stood has become a common and necessary practice. In acknowledging the existing homes and their varying heritage value, the overall scale of Victoria & Burke overlays a binding between the old and new. Meeting and matching the surrounds, Carr reinterprets form, scale and texture through a contemporary lens that focuses on enduring relevance.