- Interior
In the middle of a busy street in Melbourne, Australia, you’ll find this mysterious house. Outside, the SLD Residence doesn't reveal much of itself and looks quite bare, sleek and grey. But once inside, you'll immediately feel like you're in an elegant, warm home.
In the streetscape of this property you'll find an eclectic mix of mid-century architecture and more traditional structures. Leslie Perrott's iconic design 'Troon' (1964), among others, is located diagonally across the street from the residence we are discussing here. The monolithic façade and interior of the SLD Residence were designed by Davidov Partners Architects.
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The clients wanted a family home with a focus on light and natural materials. The designers took this into account. Behind the grey facade is a house that is filled with lots of natural light and that offers a lot of privacy. For example, the entrance is located along the side. It has an external light shaft that reflects the natural light in the foyer with a double high ceiling. The whole structure of the house revolves around two main areas: a living and entertainment area. Not many pieces of furniture were used, but those standing there fill the space with their iconic style. These two rooms and the dining area and kitchen are connected by corridors, creating a circular flow that makes the whole house feel compact and connected.
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"Not many pieces of furniture were used, but those standing there fill the space with their iconic style."
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Davidov also created this flow by using the same materials everywhere, especially patina. The granite floors are reflected in the driveway and the natural cement plaster of the outer walls is evoked inside by coarsely applied Venetian plasterwork. The sleek, minimalist material palette is nicely complemented by strips of sumptuous marble. The most striking is probably the black marble adjacent to the landing of the second floor. The oak floorboards used to cover the doors bring warmth to the cool palette.
This project shows the possibility to create interiors that are bright, airy and ordered by using a limited range of materials. Less is more is certainly the motto here.
Images © Veeral Patel