A
ustralian houses are generally lightweight in their con-
struction, especially in comparison to European homes.
The Armadale Residence by B.E Architecture is an exception
to this rule: constructed from solid granite, this house is
heavy. In fact, it’s 260 tonnes heavy. When walking through the
home, you are aware that it has solid foundations and a sense
of permanence. However, elements of the form, materiality and
details simultaneously create a contradictory atmosphere of light-
ness and warmth.
The owners were downsizing from a large family home and
wanted a house that would suit them now, including accommodating
visiting adult children, as well as into the future. Situated on a
prominent site in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Armadale, this
home needed to be a private sanctuary, shielded from the many
cars taking a short cut through the area’s backstreets. The idea of
creating something “quite protective” but “with as much light as
possible” emerged as a brief, and the choice of material evolved from
these parameters.
Armadale Residence is clearly a “celebration of granite,” as
described by Andrew Piva, one of the directors of B.E Architecture.
It presents to the street as a bold form of two blocks of granite, one
cantilevered over the other. “We like to give our buildings a sense of
gravitas,” says Andrew, explaining that the practice often looks to
civic buildings as reference points.
The primary material chosen for a project by B.E Architecture – in
this case, granite – informs the form. “It wasn’t like cutting butter,
but we could start thinking about it like that,” says Andrew. The
stonemason executed the detailing of the stonework with absolute
precision, concealing the stainless steel flashing so that there is a
clean edge to the granite. The natural texture and irregularity of the
split-faced stone refract and reflect light across the surface, breaking
down the mass of the external form.
The external material palette is carried throughout the interior
of the dwelling. The floors are in granite, and the bathrooms are
fitted with custom-designed granite sinks and baths that have been
engineered from solid blocks of stone. The internal proportions
are generous, yet the layout of the home is efficient. The main
living space is open planned, with the neutral palette receding to
announce a large, circular, custom-designed light fitting. A stainless
steel kitchen is contained within one corner of this north-facing
space, with the living areas spilling out onto a terrace whose
perimeter is defined by a large concrete beam overhead. This beam
also serves to frame the greenery and block out views to the
neighbour’s home.
Hidden at the rear of the site, and accessed via narrow steps from
the terrace, is a pool. On one side this body of water is contained
by the house itself and a small Juliet balcony pushes out from the
living space to cantilever over the pool. Being in this space feels
remarkably similar to being in Europe.
A small media room offers retreat from the main living spaces,
providing a cosy space to cuddle up on the custom-designed sofa.
Other secondary spaces, such as the study and extensive pantry, were
designed with the same appreciation for materiality and detailing
as the main living areas. Although designed with a consistent
material palette and a clearly defined form, this house is consciously
intended to avoid the label of “minimal.” It is a house for living in
and not to be too precious about.
A touch of drama was added to the vertical circulation path – a
circular skylight throws natural light onto the textured concrete
walls containing a spiralling stair. Upstairs, the main bedroom has
a view to a mossy, planted courtyard, similar to the way Japanese
homes contain and frame nature. This private outdoor space is also
accessible from the main ensuite and includes an outdoor shower.
The greenery softens the textures of the stone; landscaping plays
an important role in the design of the home generally. This outdoor
space also allows soft light to filter into the ensuite and bedroom.
The northern windows to the bedrooms on the upper level
are all protected by custom-designed automatic timber shutter
screens that can be moved according to the direction and intensity
of the sun. At this house, “it’s about bringing the light inside, in
the right ways,” says Andrew. From the exterior, the shutters are
inset into the granite and where there are no windows, the timber
cladding continues along the facade to form a strip of texture that
complements the stone.
The use of granite, while monumental, isn’t oppressive. There’s
also something refreshing about the weight of its construction,
perhaps because it’s so unusual for Australia. Every architectural
element is considered, without a reliance on any current trend or
style, making this home refined and elegant. While new, the house
gives the impression that it has been on its site for a while – and that
it will be there for a long time to come.02 A large, custom-designed
light fitting stands out
against the living area’s
neutral tones.02