Liveable Art - JARtB House by Kavellaris Urban Design (KUD)

Designed as both an art gallery and a family home, JARtB House is an architect’s own home that explores the relationship between art and architecture.

Located on a leafy street in the sought-after suburb of Toorak in Melbourne and designed by and for Billy Kavellaris of international award-winning architecture firm Kavellaris Urban Design (KUD), the house presents as a piece of sculpture or an artwork in itself, with a mural spanning the facade of the upper floor. This piece, created by Spanish duo PichiAvo, is made up of 13 panels stitched together and represents contemporary graffiti interpretations of classical Greek mythology. The works can be experienced from both outside the house and inside, where they create interesting lightplay.

Inside the circular, concrete toothed entrance, a gallery space is created through a white circulation strip that carries through the lower floor. Some works were custom designed to fit this space and much of the furniture and interior design doubles as installations. Materials are varied, with concrete and steel playing a key role in the palette, as well as custom timber floor and wall panelling by Made by Storey.

Designed to reflect ideas from the Baroque era, this is a unique home that elevates architecture and interior design to the realm of fine art.