Weighted and Raw – The North House by mckimm

Carved from weighty raw materials, The North House by mckimm is solidly anchored to its site through its comprising elements, while geometric apertures create a sense of balance and openness. References to the classical colonnade are combined with a modern and contemporary approach to conjure a home intended to endure.

On its generous allotment in Melbourne’s south, The North House is located amongst similar contemporary homes in Brighton. Responding both to the context and a desire for an enduring connection to the site, the resulting robust and resilient family home embodies a sense of weight and permanence. The overall form is defined by clean lines that open at arched overtures sitting rhythmically along the façade to mark the outer shell and connect the inside condition with the surrounding lush landscape. Working closely with a passionate client, mkimm creates a lasting home of contrasting raw and smooth finishes.

Concrete is used extensively to mark the exterior of the home, while adding richness to the interior, which is then given further texture and warmth through exposed brickwork and muted timber insertions.

While the large and welcoming home optimises its position on site, more intimate moments are created through a compression of space and volume. Built by mckimm, The North House is imagined from a narrative of linear elements, which are then punctuated by softening arches. The combination references a previous era when a classical and controlled repetition would sculpt the exterior of stately buildings. Bringing these elements and principles into the residential realm elevates the home, leading it to become a unique destination of its own.

Held back from the street and entered via a suspended bridge, the home offers an insight into its grandeur and rarity from the onset. The experience of moving across the bridge allows a visual connection across its three levels, as a reminder of its substantial proportions. Concrete is used extensively to mark the exterior of the home while adding richness to the interior, which is given further texture and warmth through exposed brickwork and muted timber insertions. Steel, metal and stone then add a heightened engagement throughout the interior, while large glass panels that stretch over multiple stories invite a conversation between beyond the building envelope, framing views of the garden.

While the large and welcoming home optimises its position on site, more intimate moments are created through a compression of space and volume.

Eliminating all unnecessary fussiness, The North House is a considered family home. As the designer and builder, mckimm has created an enviable place for a family to gather and grow.