Episode 3
With the completion of his family home, Hawksburn House, Lachlan McArdle of Lande Architects reflects on where the project began and how it evolved through close collaboration with Artedomus.
Located in Melbourne’s South Yarra, Hawksburn House was conceived as a direct response to its triangular, inner-city site. “I think on this project, one of the most exciting opportunities was also one of the most daunting challenges,” McArdle says. Positioned on a quiet cul-de-sac among single-fronted terraces, the home’s unusually broad 18-metre frontage had the potential to dominate the streetscape.
“What keeps taking us back to Artedomus is their ability to source truly unique stone and tiles which we can’t find anywhere else.”
However, by retaining the existing birch trees and staggering the offset to the front, they were able to soften the building’s street presence. The trees are now integral to the atmosphere of the home. “The dappled light through the birch trees is really lovely and even the stripes that are cast from the pergola above are really interesting to follow throughout the day.”
The family home reflects the studio’s broader design approach. “Keeping it simple and restrained but not minimal was really central to the design ideas,” McArdle says. The close collaboration with Artedomus was central to this outcome, building on the relationship they’d developed over eight years. “There’s a certain shorthand which comes with that much history,” he adds, “but what keeps taking us back to Artedomus is their ability to source truly unique stone and tiles which we can’t find anywhere else.”
Jaime Cucinotta from Artedomus was also excited about the collaboration. “It’s always really exciting when an architect is working on their own project because you know all of the creative ideas that they’ve been storing are about to be explored.” Key selections from the expansive Artedomus product range contributed to the home’s warm, textural palette.
Cotto Manetti Litos tobacco terracotta tiles extend from the front entry into the powder room, carport and bathrooms. “They have been making terracotta for eight generations and the clay is sourced directly from Tuscany,” she explains. “They are one of the only companies in the world that still make terracotta in this traditional way.” Inside the powder room sits the handmade Agape Cenote basin by Patricia Urquiola, described by Cucinotta as “truly just a piece of artwork”. Throughout the home, all internal and external door hardware is by Spiggy.
In the kitchen, Qariza natural stone was selected for its “beautiful deep brown and rich golden hues.” The adjoining pantry is lined in silver travertine, which also continues into the children’s bathroom alongside dark navy Vixel glass mosaic tiles. In the primary ensuite, Qariza reappears on the vanity, paired with the Inax Nagi border tiles. “Inax mosaics and ceramics come from centuries of Japanese history,” Cucinotta says. “No two pieces will ever be the same.”
For McArdle, designing his own home brought a different level of scrutiny to every decision. “Designing our own home with my wife has been a really interesting experience as opposed to how we normally work with clients,” he says. “Ultimately, we approached decisions like materials and selections from two very different angles, but I think we landed exactly where we were meant to.”
