Toorak House

Toorak House was a successful collaboration in which we delivered this simple, yet highly sophisticated and highly detailed residence in Melbourne’s inner city.

As recent property purchase, from the outset it was clear- this was to be a deeply personal project for our client that would result in a repositioning for both house and client. The final design is reflective of this objective. Extensive design across three existing floor levels and the creation of new rooftop garden terrace level providing uninterrupted city views has been achieved in this transformative project.

All existing spaces were gutted of their previous incarnations. The powerful connotations of ‘home’ have been explored with the client who wanted this new property; to be a contemporary, warm and welcoming home for friends and family, to be a place of quiet respite in a busy life; to be a place that felt intimate and comfortable for a sole occupant; to be reflective of their personality and interest in design; and a place for the curation of artworks, curiosities and objects that hold much meaning to them.

New bespoke joinery has been designed throughout the house from kitchen, library through to bedrooms. Now transformed living areas spill out to lush courtyards at both entry and rear entertaining courtyards. A sensual organic formed staircase sweeps up from lower ground level and is liberated to the newly created roof garden terrace- the journey guided by sky views from the expansive roof light above.

The client’s appreciation of design, and the brief to respond to frequent entertaining, resulted in the kitchen island bench being the centerpiece to the space containing kitchen, dining and casual living. The client’s brief included what was previously an underutilised back of house area with laundry and car garaging to the lower ground level to be transformed to include a sauna and gym; wine room and entertainment theatre.

The project was a collaboration between FOA and Jane Williams Architects.