Toorak Garden Residence
Expansive use of custom designed floor to ceiling windows and doors blur the boundary between interior and exterior
Set in an upscale inner suburb of Melbourne among historical houses and tree-lined streets, the Toorak Garden Residence is the latest home designed by Conrad Architects. Inspired by the European garden villas of Veneto in Italy, the home is defined by strong geometries, calm symmetries with balanced proportions, and an abundance of custom designed floor to ceiling windows and doors.
The building was designed around a central axis and features rhythmic, solid shapes of straight lines and large openings looking through walls of glass out towards its green outdoors. The grand scale of the residence, and its connection to the garden, features full height Reynaers Hi-Finity sliding system, Reynaers SlimPatio 68 sliding system and iaSlim pivot doors, providing truly seamless transitions throughout.
WALLS OF GLASS EFFORTLESSLY SLIDE OPEN
The symmetrical and sculpturally articulated façade and the forward projecting loggias assist in blurring the boundary between interior and exterior with walls of glass that effortlessly slide open providing access to the outdoors and further enhance the garden vistas, drawing natural daylight deep inside the home.
Thick masonry walls, repeating elements and crisp light coloured volumes are punctuated by flush fitting floor to ceiling windows, that disappear behind clever ceiling alcoves, ensure exterior and interior are minimalist and fresh. Art complements the architecture at strategically chosen spots. The main staircase – a sculptural centrepiece that counteracts the building’s austerity with its soft, curved lines – leads up to the top floor and the home’s more private areas.
A double-height enclosed courtyard of stone, timber and frameless glass, incorporating a reflection pond, forms the entry to the house; it defines a primary axis through the house that terminates at an intimate sculpture court. The spiral stair mid-way along this axis forms a pivot point that presents an expansive view through uninterrupted wall of glass in the double height dining room, over the swimming pool, and to the garden beyond.
“The design of the house utilised rigorous planning, reminiscent of a Palladian villa, to create a highly controlled path of movement through the house, along numerous view axes that present different connections to the garden, ranging from expansive to intimate.” – Paul Conrad, Architect
Products:
– Reynaers Hi-Finity Sliding System
– Reynaers SlimPatio 68 Sliding System
– iaSlim pivot doors
