A home is where one should feel comforted and at ease. Conrad Architect’s harmonious blend of a bold and geometric exterior with a light and warm interior palette, embodying the feeling of a furry friend welcoming you home, is a rare and expertly executed juxtaposition.

A striking expression of scale and proportion, Toorak Garden Residence by Conrad Architects is a contemporary interpretation of the classical European garden villa typology; a symmetrical building planned around a central axis; its rhythmic, solid geometry imposing but proportionally and aesthetically sympathetic to the surrounding formal landscaping – at home amongst some of Melbourne’s most historic homes.

The strength of the building’s form, its materiality – thick, masonry walls – and its repeating elements, like the patio’s series of expansive doors and the front façade’s massive grid-like windows, are all typical of Conrad Architects’ aesthetic and have the effect of instilling a quiet permanence into the new build.

On arrival in the private entry court, a sculpture rises from a reflection pond; the aesthetic fluidity of water set next to full-height glazing. The sculpture is visible from the lobby inside – a strong juxtaposition alongside solid timber double doors that give very little away.

Once inside, the spiral staircase – a sculptural work in its own right – leads to a first-floor landing and turns to a view, out across the dining area’s double-height void, of the garden, pool and cityscape beyond. This visual connection with the garden and the swimming pool was high on the client’s list of must-haves, informing the siting of the house ‘behind’ the landscape to bring garden vistas to every room.

Transitional spaces are a recurring feature throughout. Adjacent to the ground floor dining area is a large, central pivot door, the absence of mullion ensuring its pure expression. Centrally located and overlooking an internal view to the garden and exterior view of the central stair, its placement enhancing the axis from both perspectives.

To further enrich the connection between the interior and the garden, the structural frame of the building was extended to form a pergola-type structure with retractable awnings – creating outdoor ‘rooms’, similar to the way an Italian terrace transitions from inside to out. A rectangular pool-house pavilion sits perpendicular to the main house, comprising a gym, lounge and bathroom.

The interior palette throughout is a calmly emotive counterpoint to the angular austerity of the house’s armature. Conrad Architects’ inclination toward minimally processed natural materials is apparent, with unfilled travertine gracing the entry sequence, stairs, outdoor paving and living area plinth, and wrapping the kitchen island bench. It meets Stone Italiana quartz countertops, limewash paint and oak joinery and floors in an elegant dialogue on textural interest; while a variety of marbles are sublime insertions into the powder room, tonally distinct hers-and-his ensuites and the dressing rooms.

Articolo lighting was specified for its artisanal and atmospheric qualities, its contemporary linearity and orb-like elements in step with the other circular punctuations in the scheme’s angularity: round skylights and mirrors, the curved central stairwell with its snaking half walls, and the most dramatic iteration, a bespoke installation of fifty Fizi ball lights hanging from a great height above the dining area. Poliform furniture, soft linen drapes and plush loop pile carpets complete the home’s refined yet eminently comfortable lustre.

Beyond the imposing exterior, the residence welcomes you into the warm embrace of its airy, overheight ceilings, light-filled living spaces and soft shadows where you can let your guard down and be yourself. Through considered design details, Conrad Architects has delivered a residence that is modern yet not cold — a wondrous feat.

Photography by Sharyn Cairns