3 minute read
Where Architects Live: Stephen Jolson
Where Architects Live: Stephen Jolson
ARCHITECT Jolson PHOTOGRAPHY Lucas Allen, Jean Luc Laloux WORDS Yvette Caprioglio
Set inside the walls of an old confectionery factory, the inner-city home of Melbourne architect Stephen Jolson and his family is testament to the design ethos applies to all his projects – to celebrate context, expressed by a simple palette of meticulously detailed materials, blurring the line between architecture, interior and landscape.
A supple black leather 271 Mex Cube sofa designed by Piero Lissoni for Living Divani takes pride of place in Stephen’s living space, accompanied by the Knoll Platner coffee table by Warren Platner and Flos Arco lamp.
Designed 14 years ago, what has become evidentupon reflection as the family’s needs have evolved, isthat the design has stood the test of time. Unlike otherwarehouse residences, rather than convert the interiorspace, Jolson chose to pull out the entire inside of thebuilding and build a new two storey home and gardenon the existing first-floor slab of the factory. In doingthis, the existing 1950’s façade has been recycled as afreestanding wall that acts like a ‘mask’, concealing ahidden urban oasis within. “We wanted to live in ahome that was private and secure and celebrated itselffrom the inside out. The existing 1950’s factory façadeprovided us with an opportunity on which to buildupon,” says Stephen.
The home celebrates its context by using a limitedpalette of contemporary materials inspired by theexisting factory. A sculptural, solid steel staircase actsas a ribbon that transitions the rugged polishedconcrete floors, exposed steel columns, baggedbrickwork of the factory on the ground floor, up intothe refined first and second-floor residence, which ismeticulously detailed.
A custom study nook with American oak joinery in the kitchen features the Roy Tavolo Wall Light by Mario Nanni and 412 Cab Chair by Mario Bellini for Cassina.
Believing that everything we do in life is based upon what has come before, Stephen has paid homage to the unique history of the building by adding an image of the Sugar Vats that once stood within these walls and used them to create ‘Hundreds & Thousands’. “I contacted the original owners of the factory who provided us with memorabilia. We were particularly drawn to this image, which at large scale fractured into black and white pixels, which add an extraordinary layer of texture to the interior space,” he says.
The key hallmark of the home was established when he decided to rip out the existing 1950’s saw-toothed roof and set the new two confectionery storey façade back 10 metres from the existing brick façade. This created a generous 22 m long north-facing garden directly accessible from the home’s living room.
The walls of the home’s garden are planted with a combination of Boston Ivy, Virginia Creeper and Wisteria, that celebrate autumn colour seasonal change, revealing the red brick walls of the existing factory. The pool with its curved wall sits in the garden as a considered piece of sculpture, becoming the pool fence in itself, as an object which seemingly does not touch the adjoining facades.
Stephen’s master bathroom includes a custom bath and basin on European oak floors.
“Nature is so important to our designs; as contributory to the interior or architecture in creating a sense of place. Our garden is our oasis and its design was carefully considered in all aspects of our home,” says Jolson. The softness created by the organic flow of the simple geometric shapes is layered and enhanced by an abundance of northern light. “The textural shift of the landscape plays a key role in layering the visual depth of our home. Our artwork and furniture juxtapose the simple blank canvas of our walls, collected over the last 15 years, each piece carefully selected to add to the story of our life.”
– Stephen Jolson
