Luxury Craftmanship – Wimbledon Avenue by Taylor Pressly Architects

Channelling the sense of warmth and togetherness that has long-defined the family concept, Wimbledon Avenue befits its traditional domestic purpose. Crafted by Taylor Pressly Architects in collaboration with the clients – Dave and Katie Penfold of Penfold Property Group – the functional home provides a timeless environment for communal living.

Situated at the junction between Elwood, St Kilda, Balaclava and Elsternwick, Wimbledon Avenue reflects thorough consideration of local design heritage. Recycled red brickwork references the previous iteration of the house as well as the influential art deco movement, wrapping the lower half of the exterior and tracking its fluid curves with a stack bond format. Towards the centre of the visual composition, the vertical edge of the brick enables the gaze to be bent towards the entrance of the home, establishing a subtle invitational gesture. Darker tones balance the vibrant colour of the ground floor exterior, including dark grey paintwork accompanied by a slate roof which echoes the presentation of neighbouring buildings.

Situated at the junction between Elwood, St Kilda, Balaclava and Elsternwick, Wimbledon Avenue reflects thorough consideration of local design heritage.

Spatially, Wimbledon Avenue is configured to allow family members to orientate themselves, both as a group and as individuals. Split into two levels, the ground floor captures the living-kitchen-dining area and master bedroom whilst the second floor sees children’s bedrooms adjacent to the rumpus room and ensuites. From the master bedroom, a direct sightline extends through the living room to the outdoor pool, enhancing the sense of space.

In contrast, soft furnishings sprinkled throughout the remainder of the home shorten sightlines in order to create an intimate atmosphere, conducive to engaging social experiences. With the swimming pool positioned at one end of the site and the courtyard situated at the other, Wimbledon Avenue embraces natural light from opposing directions during the day. Internally, elements of limestone and black timber joinery juxtapose American oak parquetry flooring arranged in a herringbone pattern, nodding

Occupying a central position in the spatial plan is a landscaped courtyard that opens to a staircase, executed by S&A Stairs.

Occupying a central position in the spatial plan is a landscaped courtyard that opens onto a staircase, executed by S&A Stairs. The spiral staircase connects the levels of the home with a smooth three-dimensional curve, painted white. As a result of its sculptural nature and proximity to windows, the staircase translates incoming light into shadow-cut patterns that change with every passing hour. The handrail – a snaking form neatly attached to the foundation – represents a particular achievement of S&A Stairs. While the company of the past would have taken days or weeks to build the rail, the modern-day S&A Stairs draws upon its 102 years of experience in order to complete the work within hours, using 5-Axis CNC technology. The rail, in combination with the primary staircase structure, embodies the balance of mathematics, aesthetics and building stipulations that underpins its creation.

By accommodating a family with ease, Wimbledon Avenue succeeds in what is considered its core function. Offering a welcoming enclosure, Taylor Pressly Architects associates the communal domestic experience with elevated living and luxury craftmanship.