Carving a calm future

The contemporary, carefully sculpted curves of this monumental Melbourne build make for a surprising yet fantastically serene family home

The striking, curved exterior of this monumental Melbourne home conceals a suprisingly serene interior

When consulting with his clients about the kind of home they wanted, Melbourne-based architect Michael Leeton of Leeton Pointon Architects and Interiors was given a pleasingly open brief. ‘The owners are a busy couple with three kids,’ he explains. ‘So other than it needing to be a functioning family home, they just said, “see what you come up with”.’

What Michael gave them is a spectacular creation in concrete and glass, full of curves and projections that play elegantly with a balance between solid structure and perceived weightlessness. The two-storey, 864-square-metre Canopy House, as it’s known, is situated on a quiet residential street in a leafy suburb of Melbourne. Both the building’s external and internal contours take their cues from the tree-lined street on which the property sits. Having knocked down an existing 1980s brick house to make way for his vision, Michael’s aim was, he says, ‘to make sure that this new home would connect to the street and give something back’.

As an architectural creation, it’s full of surprises, from the sweeping driveway and spectacular flying saucer-like form hovering above the entrance to a vast glass front door. Inside, what might’ve been a cold, contemporary space is, in Michael’s hands, full of warmth and wonder. The ground floor, rather than one large open-plan space, is instead a series of zoned volumes: a minimalist kitchen and dining area, a study, casual family room and a more formal living room. At the centre of it all is a sculptural staircase that, as it ascends to the first floor, gracefully divides: to one side, the parents’ wing; to the other, the children’s. From almost every angle, though, one’s eye is drawn outside, to views of the elliptical pool and lush garden.

‘The walls are so big, we didn’t want it to feel like this was some heavy block,’ explains Michael, ‘so we created thresholds that offer a sense of journey and discovery.’ It’s his use of materials, though, that gives this property its joyous personality. From the oak floorboards – also used on walls, ceilings and built-in benches – that help to dampen acoustics, to the chalky polished plaster, softened by linen curtains, they lend this space a sense of serenity.

The interiors, led by Michael’s long-time collaborator Allison Pye, are elegant yet practical. Little touches of whimsy in furniture or lighting remind us there are teenagers in the house, while colour is neatly edited, too: deep-blue Bart Schilder sofas in one of the living areas and paintings by Sydney artist Jonny Niesche in another. ‘I think this place has nuance and subtlety,’ concludes Michael. ‘A house that’s tactile and will age well is always key.’ leetonpointon.com

‘WE CREATED THRESHOLDS THAT OFFER A SENSE OF JOURNEY AND DISCOVERY’

Opposite The futuristic, floating concrete porte-cochère (the large covered entrance) was inspired by the shape of the canopies of the trees that line the street This page Set amid the limestone floors and polished plaster walls of the open-plan interior is a striking sculptural staircase

Opposite Moving Picture by artist Jonny Niesche greets guests as they enter through the glass front door, which has a linen curtain pulled across for privacy This page Hand-applied black polished plaster walls set the study apart from the rest of the light and airy house. The occasional table (top) is a vintage bamboo piece by Pierre & Charlotte, while the ‘Chiara’ armchair and ottoman (right) is by Francesco Binfaré for Edra

Living room Facing out to the garden, this is the property’s formal reception area. Elegant touches such as the brass-edged mirrored glass wall and fringed poufs from Gubi add a shot of glamour. A pair of deep-blue ‘Bart’ sofas by Dutch designer Bart Schilder for Moooi sit on a similarly coloured rug from the ‘Agra’ collection by Armadillo & Co. The glass coffee table is the ‘Atlantis’ by Lorenzo Arosio for Glas Italia

Kitchen This vast, open-plan area includes a custom-made limestone island and ‘She Said’ bar stools by Studio Nitzan Cohen for Mattiazzi, as well as an informal dining area. The ‘Tambootie’ oak table by Agostino & Brown is surrounded by oak chairs, also from the ‘She Said’ collection. Above the table hangs a ‘Semi’ pendant light by Claus Bonderup and Torsten Thorup for Gubi

Family room With wraparound views of the garden and swimming pool, this space is given a warmer feel via the ceiling and cabinetry, which is finished in oak. ‘Off Cut’ stools by Tom Dixon feature alongside a ‘Cloudscape’ armchair, a collaboration between Diesel Living and Moroso, and a modular ‘Cloud’ sofa by Sanja Knezović for Prostoria. The wall light is the ‘Counterbalance’ by Daniel Rybakken for Luceplan

Stairwell Oak floorboards have been used to vertically clad the walls, increasing the sense of height while adding warmth to the mostly white interior Guest bathroom A skylight illuminates this cheerful yellow space, where a Philippe Starck ‘Gnome’ table for Kartell adds a touch of fun Bedroom With its luxurious en suite featuring a ‘Spoon’ bathtub by Benedini Associati for Agape, this space is all about relaxation. The custommade bench, crafted from oak floorboards, runs the length of the window, creating the perfect spot for contemplation