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White House in Beaumaris

Contemporary Melbourne Home: New Australian Property design by In2, architects

20 Jan 2015

White House, Beaumaris

Design: In2, architects

Location: Beaumaris, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

New House in Beaumaris, Victoria

The brief from the clients was to create a functional home for a young family, which they could grow into. There was a strong focus on a “hard edge” design with a timeless aesthetic. A low maintenance building taking advantage of new building technologies, techniques and materials was essential.

There needed to be a seamless interaction between indoor and outdoor spaces with a strong interface to the pool. Views from the master bedroom and living room to the parklands opposite the site were highly desired. Multiple car garage with a ‘Man Cave’ was also essential.

White House

The site of the White House is located in the south eastern suburb of Beaumaris, one street back from Beach Road, therefore any materials selected would need to endure the coastal air. The site itself is a typical suburban 697sqm corner allotment. The predominant street frontage is orientated to the west.

The surrounding streetscape features eclectic styles of architecture. There is a diagonal fall across the site of 1.7m, which needed to be considered. Bayside City Council’s residential schedules also meant that setbacks would need to be significantly increased from Rescode standards. Parklands directly opposite provide an unobstructed view.

White House

The design succeeds in creating a very functional family home, in perfect harmony with the clients lifestyle. Innovative design and building solutions bring both functionality and aesthetics to the building and interiors. A basement utilises the natural fall of the land, which afforded the upper levels maximum view of the parklands.

Pedestrian access was brought in from the side street directly into the centre of the building, providing fluid movement to all living zones. What has been created is truly honest and sophisticated building. Above all this is a home which the clients are comfortable in and proud to share.

Best New Home Over $1M
The design delivers a very functional home which precisely meets the family’s needs. A minimalist design philosophy was adopted in that the building forms would follow the function of the spaces and should not require any embellishments to enhance the architecture.

The result is a very cohesive and timeless solution which had been precisely and meticulously considered in every aspect from finishes to layout of rooms and attention to detail. The fact that many of these details are easily missed or appear so simple is testament of a completely resolved design. The arrangement of solid monolithic cubic forms appear suspended, supported only by the lightest of structures. The western facade is articulated by a very controlled rhythmical placement of full height slot windows. This is a very careful balance of simple understated forms.

This building and interiors exude confidence and originality, and is unapologetically minimalist in style, form and function. However this is also a home that succeeds in breaking the myth that minimalist architectures is cold, clinical and harsh. This home more than exceeded the client’s expectations, providing a thoroughly considered and visually exciting design.

A very high level of automation and technology has been incorporated into lighting control, multi-room A/V control, surveillance and security ensuring that the home is future proofed.

White House

Interiors
A holistic approach was needed to ensure that all of the internal spaces functioned for their intended use and reflected the bold and minimalist design aesthetic of the building.

The restrained and sophisticated palette has been offset by an abundance of natural light. Subtle textures play as meaningful a role as the selected colours. Each of the rooms finishes have been designed to a very controlled aesthetic. Particular attention was given to key features, and all other elements were purposefully selected and placed to ensure that the space is not confused by competing objects.

Each zone has been carefully considered with minor variations on selected materials giving each room a unique feel, while maintaining a congruent theme. New materials were selected for their enduring properties and uniformity. The chosen materials have a timeless aesthetic appeal while providing for the demands of a young family.

The sculptural sinuous stair and walk bridge takes centre stage in the central atrium, and sets a clear tone for all of the interior spaces. This dramatic staircase flows effortlessly from the entry to the upper floor bedrooms.

White House

Kitchen
The kitchen was to be a very important element to this design both functionally and visually. The striking Nero Marquina benchtops and splashback were hand selected to become the hero of the space. The stone’s heavily patterned surface was a deliberate contrast to the sharp and clean lines of the rooms.

The stone marries perfectly with the selected timber veneer, and is framed effortlessly with the ultra high gloss metallic finish of the abutting joinery. To ensure that the stone splashback made the strongest possible statement, it was maximized in size and book matched. A pop-up rangehood would ensure direct extraction to the cook top as well as providing added protection to the stone splashback.

The bespoke joinery has been meticulously detailed to a level normally associated with fine furniture. Mitred drawer fronts and recessed finger pulls wrap seamlessly around the entire island bench. The full height metallic cupboards have been set flush with the matching overheads, further pronouncing the stone and timber bench which mirrors the detailing of the island.

The large butler style pantry also provides additional work and storage space which is also easily concealed. The pantry mirrors the detailing of the kitchen itself, providing a seamless interface between the two work areas.

White House

Bathrooms
The bathrooms all follow the same careful selection of timeless materials and fittings, however what has been created are four very unique bathroom zones.

The Master Ensuite offers a very sophisticated and sleek resort suite style of bathroom, which opens generously to the bedroom, creating more of a retreat than merely a functional bathroom. The proportions are opulent, while the tone of the room remains intimate.

White House

The Kids Bathroom palette is clean and bright, in a timeless style that can be enjoyed well into later years. The basin, toilet and bathing zones have been separated to ensure that the bathroom is not limited by a single occupant. The expansive skylight located directly above the vanity, floods the central basin space with natural light.

The powder room offers the same rich palette as the Ensuite. The addition of polished listello strips provide further sophistication to the fabric textured wall tiles.

White House

Following through on the theme of the adjoining timber sauna, the Pool House Bathroom has a warmer Scandinavian feel.

Photographs: Dean Schmideg

White House

White House in Beaumaris images / information from In2

Location: Beaumaris, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

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Website: Beaumaris, Victoria