Waterloo by C.Kairouz Architects

A new development offered an interior design director homeowner to respond with a home that explores the blending of new and old through a monochromatic, minimalistic lens.

When Sammy Kairouz, interior design director at C.Kairouz Architects, purchased an apartment in the Waterloo development in Melbourne’s inner north, he saw an opportunity to shape an environment that inherently emulates his preference for minimalistic design. A home where a reductive approach to architecture has been complemented by tactile furniture pieces and meticulous yet expressive styling to establish a language of effortless precision.

Waterloo’s success is measured in the invisibility of its design details.

Waterloo’s success is measured in the invisibility of its design details. Across 125 square metres of interior space and a terrace of equal size, the apartment is defined by an overt aesthetic clarity felt upon entry as a physiological unknotting. First impressions read as a collection of monochromatic rooms composed of concrete, plaster, glass and steel – hushed spaces that are almost gallery-like in their appearance. However, those impressions are fleeting. There is in fact a deeply resonant understory of light and shade that falls across every surface, accentuating both the alchemy of subtle details and the gentle conviction of a sense of place conveyed as the shadows lengthen and slide like a sundial.

“This was the first time I had the opportunity to consider what matters to me, what sensibilities I prefer,” says Sammy of the principled approach he took when designing his own home. “It activated an intuitive way of understanding format that leads to flexible layouts that don’t sit stoically in one principle or function. It also spoke to my personal design aesthetic, which leans towards rigorous refinement and clean and simple tones.”

There is in fact a deeply resonant understory of light and shade that falls across every surface, accentuating both the alchemy of subtle details and the gentle conviction of a sense of place conveyed as the shadows lengthen and slide like a sundial.

Located in Northcote, the Waterloo development is a collection of 17 architecturally led apartments merging old and new. Designed by C.Kairouz Architects and built by sister company Samssons Projects, the built environment has emerged as two distinct volumes joined by a bridge and leveraging the natural fall of the landscape as it slants downwards from High Street to frame outlooks onto mature trees. “A big facet with the architecture was how to respect the original with the new,” says Sammy. “Council requirements called for the pitched roof to be retained. The monotone palette was also a key driver, picking up from the black cement sheeting in the architecture and the textured polished render, which has been carefully balanced by layering brightness and landscaping to articulate depths and tone.”

Within this context, the programming of Sammy’s apartment differs from the other residences. Space has been carved out to create a private entryway from the street as well as from the basement carpark. Inside, interiors are entirely bespoke, forging a minimalist receptacle peppered with a storied selection of furniture, lighting, artwork and objects. A tailored layout coaxes balanced and fluid movement. Floor-to-ceiling and wall-to-wall glazing, bathed in northern and western sunlight, allows natural light to be gently diffused by the soft folds of sheer window treatments. Clean lines and refined detailing, such as full-height pivot doorways, shadow skirting and curved walls, further soften the interior and allow the passage through each space to unfold seamlessly and respectfully. “My immediate nature is that I am not a maximalist by tone,” says Sammy. “I prefer places that are pared back. I’m not a fan of aggressive lighting or intense furniture layouts. What this space really facilitated for me was building on a really strong palette of timber veneer, deep charcoal tones and the pattern language of the concrete ceilings, which are relatively rugged compared to the micro-cement flooring below.”

Inside, interiors are entirely bespoke, forging a minimalist receptacle peppered with a storied selection of furniture, lighting, artwork and objects.

An order of magnitude has been fostered at Waterloo, with details increasing as engagement becomes more intimate, cultivating a sense of elevated domesticity anchored by luxurious minimalism. A layered curation of objects and furniture, including some iconic pieces from Castorina, yield to notes of deep relaxation; tailored ensembles of mid-century pieces in buttery leathers, boucle lambswool and deep pile silk temper the geometric accuracy of the interior architecture; for every hard element, there exists a soft counter to shepherd an atmosphere of calm and quietude wrought from an approach that is profoundly measured.

Waterloo is an apartment that eliminates the superfluous to highlight the qualities that enrich life. From its eloquent architecture, its cornucopia of textured furniture to its continuous dialogue with the terrace, which frames a verdant backdrop to the living spaces, this is a place for reprieve and energetic positivity. Waterloo showcases an interior designer’s connection to his design identity, intrinsically cultivating a meticulously edited home that engages the senses and embraces stillness.

Architecture and interior design by C.Kairouz Architects.  Build by Samssons Projects. Artwork by Tom Adair.