A Sanctuary and a Home – Immersion House by Mitsuori Architects
An expansive residence obscured behind cascading garden walls, Immersion House is a hidden oasis in the middle of Melbourne’s inner-west suburbia. Creating a home that offers a sense of refuge, Mitsuori Architects defies the conditions of the corner block location through a series of unique and enveloping experiences.
Located on a gradually sloping site in a quiet residential area in an inner-western suburb of Melbourne, Immersion House is a direct response to the client’s very strong brief to have a private sanctuary whilst retaining aspects of the original heritage home. This brief was the inspiration behind Mitsuori Architects’s architectural approach, which is to create experiences and spaces so the client could have a sanctuary to raise their family.
The integration of interiors with the surrounding landscape is key to the home’s immersive effect. On the first floor, one feels a sense of being perched above the street, implanting an almost subterranean feel. The connection between the indoors and the outdoors feels seamless and natural. Views to the surrounds feature in every part of the house and a smooth transition between indoors and out occurs when all the doors are folded back.
Similarly, a rich and natural materiality becomes fundamental to creating a sense of sanctuary and immersion. The use of natural and textural materials such as concrete, timber and steel feel elementally connected to the surroundings. This minimal palette creates a cohesive home that is harmonious and feels all-enveloping.
A key aspect of this raw materiality is the use of rich timber throughout the home. Timber is used on the floors in the heritage part of the house, on the walls and ceilings throughout the extension, on the staircase and across joinery elements. Looking for flooring that was both aesthetic and technical, Mitsuori Architects has used Tongue & Groove flooring for its strong design approach and suitability to a variety of applications. This selection allows a fluid transition between floors, walls, ceiling and joinery.
Key to the considered configuration of the site was crafting an immersive experience once inside the home. Hence, Immersion House is a residence that is focused on the experience of the inhabitants whilst also celebrating its existing heritage. The addition wraps around the original building and opens up the dwelling whilst maintaining a sense of privacy.
