Silver Linings Residence, Victoria home images, Melbourne residential property, Australian residence
Silver Linings Residence in Melbourne
19 February 2025
Architects: Rachcoff Vella Architecture
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Photos: Tatjana Plitt
Silver Linings Residence, Australia
Washed up from the beach a robust and heavy mass sits on top of the rise, offering up an entry path through sand dunes, layered beach grass and aged timber planks. Below a heavily textured concrete rock shelf a recessive deep void invites one into a dark entry and the beginning of a sequence of silver lined spaces.
Silver Linings rests on Melbourne’s bayside beach front unashamedly asserting its presence along the promenade of fishbowls overlooking the bay. A project of exploration and experimentation, of restraint and control, a project of patience and architectural endeavor.
The brief was very particular and one that required extreme discipline and restraint, a restricted but robust and raw material palette, to be limited in complexity but defiant in individual character and charm. Challenges come in all forms and RVA took the 5 year journey head on exploring, detailing, drawing, sketching, modelling, reviewing and researching to achieve an architectural outcome that would consist of 4 to 5 materials, a range of bespoke fittings and fixtures all handmade and meticulously sourced.
The design intent was to ensure that nothing was left to chance. If it could be resolved through design and detailing, then that’s what was done. All attempts were made to make the most complex item appear invisible. What quickly became apparent was that the raw and unfinished, unpainted- untiled-skim coated surfaces meant continuous detailing and supervision until the the very end, a passionate and collaborative effort by all.
This is a family home needing to accommodate the love and punishment, trials and tribulations of family life. Materially this was taken care by the pure nature and robustness of the chosen palette. Spatially a program was devised that allowed collective family time as well as parent or individual zones for alone time. Coming together as a family is either nestled in the basement cave hidden away from the world or up in the light and airy living zones where sea breezes and an abundance of natural light are the backdrop to conversations.
The controlled material palette of grey and silver lining boards, off form concrete, brass fittings and white oak joinery reveal a surprisingly versatile outcome despite the various conditions within the building. In darker more intimate spaces, they offer warmth and protection, in light filled and open view spaces they offer the suns warmth and glow. This outcome justified the material selections and the strength in maintaining a minimalist design ethos.
The bar set high by the client become RVA’s manifesto, a design regime if you like that would drive the project from start to finish, only being fully comprehended when the final nail, screw, wipe down was complete. A meticulously crafted architecture of honesty, raw, robust natural materials with curated insertions of had crafted interiors and objects that celebrate a refined and true minimalism.
What was the brief?
The client’s ambition for the project set the bar high, a minimalist approach with a restricted material palette that was to be limited in complexity but defiant in individual character and charm.
The challenge was set to achieve an architectural outcome that would consist of a limited material list, a range of bespoke fittings and fixtures all handmade and meticulously sourced.
Adopting a vigilant minimalist design ethos resulted in only 4 to 5 key materials; recycled silver timber, off-form concrete, brass, white oak joinery, a range of bespoke fittings and fixtures all handmade and meticulously sourced.
Conceptually a process and philosophy of exploring, detailing, drawing, sketching, modelling, reviewing and prototyping up to and throughout construction. A fluid design and build process that would allow for experimentation and an exploration of ideas.
What were the key challenges?
Challenges were encountered throughout the entire design and procurement process. A limited material palette and complex construction methodologies had to be well coordinated, documented and communicated in what became an extended build period.
Leaving nothing to chance or reinterpretation, a collaborative design methodology was the inevitable and only solution to a what became a tough challenge. Adopting a vigilant minimalist design ethos resulted in only 4 to 5 key materials; joinery, a range of bespoke fittings and fixtures all handmade and meticulously sourced.
All attempts were made to make the most complex item appear invisible. This ultimately meant that the raw and untreated surfaces required endless detailing and supervision until the very end, there was no final paint or patch to cover up an inaccuracy or unforeseen junction, a truly collaborative effort by all involved.
Key products used:
Concrete both Structurally and for finsihed surfaces.
Pre-Aged Recycled timber cladding, decking and lining boards.
Solid American Oak Quater Cut joinery and furniture – White Oil Finish.
Weathered organic solid brass tapware, sinks, fixtures and fittings.
Further details available upon request.
What are the sustainability features?
Silver Linings has been designed utilising a combination of fundamental passive design principles combined with technology to promote automation of services.
Cross Ventilation – Operable windows on key alignments to maximize cross ventilation.
Orientation – A central courtyard facing North offers natural light and sun into the buildings core.
Shading – Glass walls are protected by concrete eave overhangs and automated external sun blinds linked to automation, sun & wind sensors.
Thermal Mass – Heavily insulated walls, floor and ceiling / roof garden layers add to energy performance.
The Roof garden has a soil mass offering further insulation to the roof layer.
External walls – 400-500mm thick Double skin concrete walls with an insulated core to maximise the thermal mass advantages of the internal skin. ‘ThermoMass’.
Floor Slabs – Insulated and thermally broken at window and wall junctions.
Windows – High performance thermally broken double-glazed windows.
European minimal frames reduce frame and increase glass ratio which not only not only maximise views but utilising the glass performance.
44,000 litre storage tank connected to high performance UV filter system servicing the entire house and swimming pool.
20kw PV Solar panel array and Battery storage system offering on demand power supply.
Swimming Pool – Solar Heating and top up connected to recycled water.
Electric Car charging for 2 Cars – Connected to solar panels
Home automation to intelligently control all energy sources and ESD equipment.
Silver Linings Residence in Melbourne, Australia property – Building Information
Architects: Rachcoff Vella Architecture – https://www.jackfugaro.com.au/
Director / Project Architect: Tony Vella
Director: Stephen Rachcoff
Associate Director: Wade Stephens
Project size: 790 sqm
Site size: 740 sqm
Completion date: 2019
Building levels: 4
Photography: Tatjana Plitt
Silver Linings Residence, Melbourne, Australia property images / information received 070125
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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