Somewhere in Ivanhoe, a quiet suburb of Melbourne, Australia, lies an at first glance unremarkable house. But the backyard has a real highlight. A rectangular, above-ground pool not only promises freshness on hot summer days, but also fascinates with a transverse wall made of clear glass. Swimmers can look through the glass wall into the living room. Since the pool water shines in bright blue, interesting lighting effects are also created in the living room.
The architecture of the house representsa living gameof opposites: heavy and light, public and private, light and darkness meet. The first expression of this game can be seen from the street facade. It seems as if the entrance to the house leads to a black nothingness. On the one hand, we have a solid, opaque, rectilinear building volume that is held in place by its own mass. On the other hand, the floor-to-ceiling panels of black glass symbolize emptiness or absence.
The front door leads into an entrance hall. The corridor then winds through the house, separating the public living spaces from the private bedrooms. Several smaller spaces are defined within the overall open plan area. In the kitchen you can see a monolithic wooden block with hidden entrances and double doors - through which you go to the private bedroom and bathroom spaces. The winding corridor is punctuated by an interplay of shapes. The effect of the various textured surfaces such as wooden floorboards and stone tiles is balanced with a long, curved, white wall.
The theme of contrasts continues with the use of a monochromatic color palette of sandy, off-white combined with deep black and warm wood. The tones are subtle but rich, enhancing the natural beauty of stone and wood. This mix of materials, colors and contrasts is used both outside and inside.
The balance between opposites can be experienced everywhere. The high ceiling creates a feeling of spaciousness, but the dark wood paneling makes the rooms appear visually lower. The stone appears cold, but still has a warm undertone. The large glass windows and sliding doors are transparent but can still provide security and privacy.
All these games of duality reach their climax: an above-ground pool with a glass wall that looks into the living room. A perfect counterpoint that lies somewhere in between – between indoors and outdoors, cold and warm, relaxed and active, open and closed.
A project byKavellaris Urban Design
