SLD Residence
Davidov Architects worked carefully to create separation and privacy from the outside world while blending materials in with natural surrounds in this Melbourne, Australia home.
The SLD Residence is located on a busy road in inner-Melbourne. Whilst the road is a prominent tree lined boulevard our clients wished to maintain a sense of privacy from the street in both a visual and acoustic sense. As such, the presentation of the house to the street takes the form of a pure unadorned mass on the first floor suspended over a recessed lower level. The span of which is interceded by a solitary concrete column, the only relief afforded to the facade.
This creates a house which possess a presence within the streetscape that is comprised of an eclectic mix of bold mid-century housing and more traditional styles. Of particular interest is the iconic Leslie Perrott designed Troon (1964) which is located diagonally opposite the house and also presents as a sheer double storey wall to the street.
The width of the block (17.5m) allowed for circulation around a central core on the ground floor which enabled the design of the house to be structured around 2 primary rooms, one living the other for entertaining. The rooms are each fitted with elements allowing the spaces to function with a minimum of additional furniture required and are linked via a corridor which connects the other vertical circulation of the house. Another smaller corridor connects the dining area to the kitchen. The circular ground floor circulation also allows the large house to feel compact whilst providing separation between spaces.
The main corridor also contains the centrally located entrance that is located on the side of the house to maximise privacy and allow for an abundance of natural light. This area also features an external light shaft that reflects light into the double height foyer whist also screening views from and two the neighbouring house.
The external walkway that takes guests from the street along the side of the house to the front door allows for a moment of disengagement from the street and allows for the house to subtly reveal itself, inviting guest into a double height loggia prior to formally entering the home. This transparency
is repeated in the basement entry which features a glazed cellar which greets the owners on their arrival. The large concrete column which dominates the façade also serves as an orientating device, visible at the end of the main corridor.
The house, utilises a very limited palette of natural materials to create a strong degree of flow between interior and exterior spaces. The natural cement render used externally is echoed internally with a coarsely applied venetian plaster finish, whilst the honed granite floor is carried through the house on all floors and echoed in the hard and soft landscaping and driveway ramp.
Architecture: Davidov Architects
Photography: Veeral Patel
