NOTFOR SAIL
While the design process was far from smooth, the owners of this Melbourne property wouldn’t swap their amazing boatshaped home for anything.
This inventive home in south-east Melbourne occupies a relatively modest 200m2. When Richard Gittins and his partner, Nicole de Spa, purchased the triangular site, their expectations were somewhat aspirational. “Our list included four bedrooms, three bathrooms (including an ensuite), a separate laundry and mud room. Wewerealsokeentohaveaswimmingpool,”saysRichard.
This was a job for an architect, with a brief that might have put others off. However, walking away wasn’t that simple – especially as Nicole’s identical twin sister, Anja de Spa of Molecule Studio, was in the frame as project architect, along with architect Richard Fleming, Anja’s life and business partner. Molecule was up for the challenge and prevailed despite the litany of hurdles that arose before they’d even put pen to paper. “I didn’t see this as a family commitment,” says Anja. “Richard F and I love pushing boundaries, even though in this case we had to reduce the footprint on which we could build by almost 10 per cent.”
“We made the mistake of thinking that because our place wasn’t heritage listed, we couldn’t go wrong,” says owner Richard G. In fact, the high-voltage lines in the street meant that the design had to adhere to the rule of ‘sag and sway’. This meant the new home needed to be set back five metres from power lines. There was also the discovery that the original Victorian home, with its attached disused milk bar and store, had overreached onto a right of way at the rear, owned by the local council.
Then came news that being in a flood zone also meant that any new dwelling had to be elevated. That was the point at which Nicole and Richard G thought of selling the property. However, with three young children – Jack, four,
Madeleine, three, and Henry, one – the benefits of this salubrious suburb, with a primary school and kindergarten only 50m away, made them rethink.
Having lived in the existing house for six years, they’d already put down roots.
Molecule devised a new home resembling a boat that has come to moor on the banks of a creek that once ran down the adjacent laneway. The first floor is 100m2 and sits atop the recessive ground floor, a compact 75m2 with large windows connecting to the site.
The kitchen and meals area is a multifunctional space. There’s a traditional island bench and deep nook (with a concealed TV) and generous built-in storage for the children’s toys. “We wanted all the spaces to be used rather than having rooms tagged for every day or entertaining,” says Nicole. Other areas are as thoughtfully considered. A mud room is cleverly tucked away behind the kitchen, and the triangular nook off the kitchen contains the laundry and powder room. “We likened this shape to an eddy you’ d find in a river, where the flow and compression of this busy part of the home are eased,” Anja explains.
Pivotal to their design is the steel spiral staircase that pierces the timber-panelled ceiling. “We treated it as an object in the room, rather than being concealed in a separate space,” says Anja. “Overall, we are really proud of how bespoke and unique this home is.”
Molecule Studio, Melbourne, Victoria;
(03) 9663 4455 or moleculeweb.com.
LIVING/DINING above left and right, and opposite The living space isn’t large, so every piece of furniture is important. There’s more hidden storage here, including a pull-out drawer for Jack’s train set. ‘Nook’ sofa and ‘Rufus’ blue armchair with green leather arms, both Jardan. Hay ‘About a Lounge’ red chair, Cult. ‘Eggcup’ side table, Mark Tuckey. Custom ‘Galet’ rug (overlocked carpet) in Pumice, Cavalier Bremworth. Photograph by Leila Jeffreys. The smaller photographs in the corner are holiday shots taken by the owners. Large white sculptures on the custom shelving (from left): fabric design by Doug Johnston from Safari Living and handmade glazed ceramic vessel by Zhu Ohmu from Modern Times. Smart buy: Ligne Roset ‘Parachute’ pendant light in Black, $295, Domo.
MADELEINE’S ROOM All the bedrooms have slightly different built-in features. The cabinetry’s charcoal laminate is by Laminex. Artek ‘E60’ stool, Anibou. Hycraft ‘Ravine’ carpet in Pewter, Godfrey Hirst Carpets. Artwork by Bonnie Gray, available through Greenhouse Interiors. >