B&W house in Melbourne, Australia by Ben Callery Architects

Article source: Ben Callery Architects

It’s not often that a Client approaches an Architect after they have chosen their Cabinet Maker.

But in this case the Owners had identified Cantilever Interiors as the designer & manufacturer for the Kitchen in their new extension before the rest of the house was even considered.

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

• Architects: Ben Callery Architects
• Project: B&W house
• Location: Melbourne, Australia 
• Photography: Tatjana Plitt

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Having led the way in kitchen design for over the last decade (ply edges, crafted timber display boxes, cut-out handles, feature ply surfaces etc) Cantilever have a strong reputation for design aesthetics and ergonomics, beautiful detailing and sustainable material use that suited these clients’ sensibility.
The Owners, a family of four (including two horticulturalists with a landscape design, construction and maintenance business) wanted to owner-build the project and selecting the kitchen was the first piece to lock in.

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Cantilever then recommended the clients engage us at Ben Callery Architects to design the house.

Having worked together a few times, we had a strong working relationship and mutual design respect and a similar sensibility all of which complemented the clients.

Rather than being concerned about the architecture being an “afterthought,” we saw this as a fantastic opportunity to design a space that would complement Cantilever’s unique cabinetry. The architecture wouldn’t necessarily be subservient to, or dictated by the cabinetry, but would complement and accentuate all of the elements that are unique in these hand crafted locally made kitchens – the materials, detailing and environmental performance.

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

The front half of the post war semi-attached house was retained and the bedrooms re-used. The addition is an elegant and compact L-shaped plan with the Kitchen at the knuckle, the Dining space to the north side opening onto an outdoor entertaining area and Living at the rear overlooking the sort of beautiful lawn that only horticulturalists have.

A raking roof lifts up over a north-facing clerestory window to bring light and warmth deep into the house.

The asymmetry in this form complements that in Cantilevers balanced elevation compositions.

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

The restrained palette of materials is all black and white except for the plywood roof and timber windows framed in timber. This is intended to complement Cantilever’s language of all monochrome surfaces except for the elements to be accentuated – ie the ply surfaces and beautifully crafted display boxes framed in timber.

The raking ceiling and corner ‘bay’ window are the main architectural gestures of the house, pulling light in form the side and connecting the occupant with the environment. As with the key elements in the cabinetry, these architectural elements are accentuated and the warm timber glows in the natural light against the backdrop of black and white – and of course the green provided by the horticulturalist owners and Mont Albert’s leafy sky.

Image Courtesy © Tatjana Plitt

Tags: Australia, Melbourne

Categories: House, Residential

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