Gable Park by Weaver+Co Architects

Gable Park, this year’s Residential Architecture winner of The (Emerging) Designer Awards presented by Artedomus and The Local Project, provides strong connections between the house, garden and neighbourhood. Crafted by Weaver+Co Architects, the minimalist residence uses soft tones and natural materials to celebrate the local environment.

Set on a leafy street in Yarraville, a western suburb of Melbourne, Gable Park enhances the friendly reputation of the neighbourhood. Blending the visual thresholds of the house and front garden with those of the street and public park located opposite, the project surpasses neighbouring works in its active embrace of the surrounds. “When you look around, many front gardens are disconnected from the street,” says Martin Weaver, director at Weaver+Co Architects, “whereas, in this case, there was an opportunity to activate it, use it and connect it to the rest of the house.” The entry, offset to one side, overlaps with the driveway and the enclosed front garden is carefully landscaped to harmonise with the park.

Drawing inspiration from the context of the neighbourhood, materials and architectural elements, Weaver+Co Architects crafted a design that harmonised with its surroundings.

Upon entering the house, residents encounter a striking double-height void complemented by a steel staircase and skylight. Across the home, the minimalist interior design emphasises natural light and space; while the hallway ceiling is lowered, the ceiling in the living area is raised, creating a sense of compression and dramatic release as residents move from one space to the next. To similar effect, the kitchen is visually modest and spatially intimate. In addition to accentuating the dimensions of the building, the high ceiling in the living area blocks neighbouring views of the interior.

“Most people, when they come into the house, they automatically go to the front lounge, which is dual sided with a central garden on one side and the front garden and park on the other,” says Weaver. The front of the home also features a verandah protected by operable timber screens, which foster an indoor-outdoor experience. Conversely, the rear of the house is occupied by the primary bedroom as well as a series of sliding doors, revealing a study and ensuite. In the latter space, a skylight allows elements of the design to be naturally highlighted throughout the day.

Throughout the home, Weaver+Co Architects embraces concepts of compression and expansion to highlight the internal spaces.

“The clients came to us with a pretty clear brief, which was that they wanted a very practical home for their family of five, with a very minimal interior, soft tones, lots of natural materials and plenty of storage,” says Weaver. The materiality of Gable Park achieves the desired visual and tactile qualities while linking to the clients’ broader aims. “The owners really wanted their house to blend in with the neighbourhood, so we chose locally handmade bricks, weatherboard and simple zincalume roofing for the outside,” says Weaver. Every externally-used material reflects a quintessential Yarraville build. Internally, Victorian ash softens the appearance of spaces on the first floor.

Embracing the suburban context, Gable Park inspires residents to enjoy views that extend beyond spatial boundaries. Weaver+Co Architects champions minimalism to deliver not only a highly functional outcome but also a peaceful home environment.

Architecture and Interior Design by Weaver+Co Architects, Build by CBD Contracting Group, Landscape by Ben Scott Garden Design, Engineering by R. Bliem & Associates, Joinery by Inner West Joinery, Furniture by Lucy Marczyk Design Studio, Lighting by Gineico Lighting.