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Architects: Splinter Society
- Year: 2019
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Photographs:Sharyn Cairns
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Manufacturers: Astra Walker, Bedont from Hub Furniture, Bluescope, Giffin Design, Longline, Meizai, Ross Gardam, Weylandts
Text description provided by the architects. Located in the north-side suburb of Northcote, the Cornerstone House emerges as an ode to the rugged beauty inspired by the project site itself, referencing the quarries that once typified the area. A stone quarry is an awe-inspiring place where raw meets refined at an impressive scale. The approach to the design is likewise to push the opposing notions into a harmonious balance that adds rich experiential qualities into the fabric of the building, ultimately creating an enhanced living space for our clients.
Literally, a Cornerstone House, the starting point for the design is a series of a dozen large boulders positioned at key moments throughout the project. The massive rocks are largely left in a rough state just as they are when extracted from the earth, preserving and highlighting the markings from industrial tooling. At points, these are partitions, joinery, flooring, landscaping, and even occasionally furniture. In construction, the cornerstones were first craned onto the site and the structure was built around them.
As a counterpart to the natural, split face stone, the architecture creates a fine-line, rhythmic vernacular with black steel cladding externally on the two-storey volume. This is carried into the interior spaces with blackened timber slats and fine steel handrails. Carefully considering refinement and balance, the house is infused with warmth through the use of natural timbers, rose-tone metals, and colourful soft furnishings creating a strong variation in texture and finish. At times these are activated by changing light conditions through the day and at others they create more tactile interactions for the inhabitants.
With an intentional emphasis on enjoyment, the design embraces a sense of glamour both internally and externally. The rich palette includes metallic highlights and teal velvets which cultivates a distinctly swanky atmosphere. Functionally, the design is equipped with all the key components for a good party, which are discreetly integrated into the architectural detailing. Responding to the neighbouring buildings, the massing is set to one side of the site to mitigate the imposing scale and sit respectfully into the streetscape.
The roofline of the house follows the pitched form and curves down floating over airy living and dining spaces. The positioning of the house provides protection from neighbouring sightlines resulting in a secluded pool surrounded by a garden setting. The hardness of the architecture is offset by the softness of the landscaping and the curving walkways. As a symphony of contrast, the Cornerstone House is ultimately a robust design for a refined lifestyle.
