Architect Designs a Calming Home with a Dreamy Garden (House Tour)

Set amid grand Victorian architecture and verdant green gardens sits the East Melbourne Residence, an inspired renovation of a significant historical building by Hecker Guthrie.
Located in a residential area of Melbourne’s inner-city, the original building was designed and built by architect Joseph Reed in 1864, and in the 1970s it was divided from one large single residence into four smaller townhouses. “The client came to us with a pretty open brief,” says Hamish Guthrie, principal architect at Hecker Guthrie. “They wanted to unlock the full potential of that house and create a bespoke design that was centred around how they wanted to live in the space.”
Given the quality of the building, the architect took certain cues from the original architecture. “Key references included the arched windows through the exterior of the building, which gave us strong cues on how to create those connections internally within the space,” says Hamish. “There is also a subtle manipulation of the interior walls and openings, which allude to the fact that they were always part of the design, while, in fact, they’re more contemporary interventions to bring light deeper into the space while also allowing a more open connectedness to the space.”
An inherent connection between zones is also a key theme of the rejuvenation of East Melbourne Residence. The architect and his team didn’t want the spaces to feel too prescriptive in their function. “We didn't necessarily want a kitchen to look like a kitchen,” says Hamish. Yet, while having different functions, rooms are seamlessly connected through materials and form.
Stone and tiles from Artedomus are used extensively throughout the home. The Selenis marble is the hero of the entryway, the kitchen and the ensuite. “While being reasonably neutral, it certainly has that formality to it and marble automatically elevates a space,” says Hamish.
The wet areas feature the Agape range. The featured bath is the Ottocento Bathtub, which is a modern interpretation of the claw foot bath. “It’s a classic design and is very elegant; it can be used in an old house like this as well as in a minimalist, contemporary setting,” says William Pearse, Melbourne business development manager at Artedomus. The Cenote Pedestal Basin, a classic piece originally designed in 1970 as a glazed planter pot, also features.
Heading upstairs to the main bedroom, one can clearly see how the spaces work together in harmony. The architect discovered a voluminous space within the bedroom that presented an exciting opportunity to explore as the client wanted a mezzanine study and more storage. “Embracing that height freed up all these opportunities to do that,” says Hamish. The sage colour scheme was another way of tying together the more formal elements of the room at the lower level.
The way each room connects to another and the way the 1970s origins merge with contemporary interventions creates a beautiful sense of harmony. “Now, each room has a purpose,” says Hamish. The result is a timeless home that feels functional and beautiful - a delight to live in.
00:00 - Introduction to the Calming Home
00:53 - The Original Brief
02:07 - Working with the Layout
02:43 - An Insight into the Artedomus Products
04:29 - Designing the Secondary Space
05:27 - Proud Moments
For more from The Local Project:
Instagram - / thelocalproject
Website - thelocalproject.com.au/
LinkedIn - / the-local-project-publ...
Print Publication - thelocalproject.com.au/public...
Hardcover Book - thelocalproject.com.au/book/
The Local Project Marketplace - thelocalproject.com.au/market...
For more from The Local Production:
Instagram - / thelocalproduction_
Website - thelocalproduction.com.au/
LinkedIn - / thelocalproduction
To subscribe to The Local Project's tri-annual print publication see here - thelocalproject.com.au/subscr...
Photography by Shannon McGrath.
Architecture by Hecker Guthrie.
Stone and bathware by Artedomus.
Filmed by Ryan Wehi.
Edited by HN Media.
Production by The Local Project.
East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Owners of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
#Architect #House #Peaceful

[@TheLocalProject]

We hope you enjoyed exploring the stunning East Melbourne Residence! Nestled amidst Victorian architecture and lush green gardens, this historical gem has been masterfully renovated by Hecker Guthrie. For more of the latest and greatest in architecture, interior design and house tours, be sure to order your copy of Issue No. 14: thelocalproject.com.au/publication/issue-14

[@chiritaalex]

kinda kinda stuff kinda stuff and kinda kinda connections kinda kinda stuff kinda kinda

[@itsalreadydone1111]

its "kinda" nice 😄

[@kitchencomputer683]

I counted over 40 'kinda's. Yes, I do have that kinda time on my hands.

[@user-or2ml8cz5y]

The video is taken to close up cant get scale of the home i have found this a bit lately with your videos. You could do a combo videos with add for tile company together still showcasing the product. Essentially i am just giving feedback to the video person its really hard to watch. Its also out of focus.

[@danniepushkin5849]

This was kind of beautiful video, really gave me kind of sense of cues I could take away when I kind of try to build my own home.

[@natashafigueroa9198]

The green Japanese tile in the guest bath is gorgeous. I also loved the pale green room with the contrast of the steel curved staircase.

[@fantasticzz4518]

Lovely. This is a no-kid home. As an empty nester, I love it. ❤

[@mpc5584]

No kid and no pets… I have that marble at home it tends to stain and oxidise easily with rust once moist

[@Lisa.Jacobson]

Imagine having such a calming home that even your garden dreams of being there! 🌿✨

[@mpc5584]

it's a really nice shade of green in the bedroom

[@petalparker5]

The garden is so pretty.

[@annwiltshire1644]

Really beautiful. Love the blend of eras and aesthetics.

[@mrvk39]

Beautiful kitchen with that thick slab of marble! I also like that they didn't glitz it up too much, even though the bones of the house were probably calling for it.

[@MM-sf3rl]

Those are the worse shots of the green Japanese tile. Missed opportunity.

[@robertrusso877]

This video could’ve been made into two: one for the home and one for the artedomus commercial.

[@mayyadursunova5736]

The number of times he said "kind of"...

[@AnnieIrving]

That really bugged me too.

[@PiefacePete46]

Ditto!

[@rudolfvalentine1755]

Literally had to stop watching half way... first time on this channel.

[@Loupdelou-ly1ve]

I was going to start a drinking game every time I heard it, remembered I don't drink and so muted it and just watched.... I'll probably continue to do this - I find the Australian architects (I'm Australian) are hard to listen to on TLP.

[@aWorkInProgress11]

awesome

[@BP-nn7tq]

yes, more color please 😊

[@user-mi7hm1qv5s]

I liked the visuals. The narrative was rambling and vague. I found myself repeatedly asking - What does that mean?

[@enuclear]

So true. Half the words would have said the same thing. Architect speak. Ugh!

[@porkshank13]

Karl Pilkington designed a gorgeous home! Who woulda thunk it?

[@zellalaing5439]

LMAO 😂😂😂😂😂

[@chekek]

😂😂😂

[@camerond554]

I kinda like it

[@ttp4059]

It truly is a talent to wipe away 160 years of history.

[@normantech81]

How many times can you say “kind of” in such a short video? Anyways, beautiful architecture for a intricate way of life, not friendly for a family with kids or elderly, still I’d assume covered their client specific expectations

[@jleetj]

kind of

[@ivanklymenko]

😍

[@bogdanpt]

It is a beautiful house but kitchens that don't look like kitchens tend to give me anxiety.

[@some_phd7655]

I really like that dark blue painting in the living area... anybody know the artist?

[@E4mj]

I was just scrolling through trying to see if anyone knew too! Isn't it beautiful!

[@dwttexjw4796]

love your work. But, this one wasn’t up to par

[@lorraineelderhurst4199]

That was filmed too close in. Green bathroom !! Only saw a few tiles.

[@eh_bailey]

Too much "whilst" and "kinda"

[@-PORK-CHOP-]

While this is all very beautiful it seems impractical for daily life, you wouldn't want to touch anything for fear of damaging anything

[@chiritaalex]

kinda kinda stuff kinda stuff and kinda kinda connections kinda kinda stuff kinda kinda

[@M.MultiverseChannel]

🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍🤍

[@ilovemusty]

toigh

[@Julia-ww9pg]

He is talking like chat gpt wrote it

[@petalparker5]

AKA designer-speak.

[@CG-99]

dull, dull ......dull!!

[@BillWoodillustrator]

Not a fan of the yellow cupboard at all….

[@roberthak3695]

Not to my liking. Looks empty and disjointed, at least interior-wise

[@MM-sf3rl]

Agree

[@gregpendrey6711]

Closeup

[@davidkambic9169]

Why don't people like order?

[@zellalaing5439]

Yeh looks like they havent moved it yet, like they did this filming just as the designer finished.

[@michellepress4172]

Beautiful but boring……. This maximalist needs a little more than a bright yellow bar cupboard 😂😂😂😂😂

[@schumi456]

Not the best video you've done. Too much obscured views.

[@loganmiat]

Yikes Can't buy taste

[@SuzyShip]

Haven't even finished this one. It's "kind of" disgusting.

[@TheSushmaHomeSellingTeam]

It breathe a new life for the entire home and it's visually appealing. 🤍🤍

[@Tahahahahahahaha]

kind of