Located in Hawthorn East, this family home was designed as a quiet retreat within a busy suburban setting. While the site enjoys expansive views towards the Melbourne skyline, its position along a well-used thoroughfare required a carefully considered response that balanced openness with privacy.

The architecture is defined by a sense of protection and calm. A restrained brick façade presents a composed and understated presence to the street, while beyond the threshold, the home unfolds through a series of light-filled spaces connected to landscape and sky. A significant existing Moreton Bay Fig tree became central to the design, anchoring the home within its garden setting and providing privacy, filtered light and a strong connection to nature.

Arranged across three levels, the home adopts a reverse-living layout, elevating the kitchen, dining and living spaces to capture panoramic views across the city skyline. Bedrooms and retreat spaces are positioned at ground level, maintaining a closer relationship to the gardens and pool and creating a softer, more intimate living experience.

A restrained palette of pale brick, natural oak, limestone and soft linen drapery establishes a warm and timeless character throughout. Natural light is carefully filtered through the home, enhancing the tactile qualities of the materials and creating a series of calm, refined spaces that feel both connected to the landscape and removed from the activity beyond.