INTERIORS

Rock star Putting stone at centre stage

Shine on Touches to raise the tone

All glass Alvar Aalto’s classic vase

SET IN STONE The monumental quality of the local rock imbues this Melbourne home with a sense of permanence that grounds it in the history of the site

YYou have to admire the way architect Chris Stanley interpreted his clients’ brief. He says that for them the most important element was durability, so Stanley, along with partner Asha Nicholas, designed them a house made of boulders.

The use of stone came about, says the co-founder of Splinter Society Architecture, because his clients loved the bluish-grey basalt that typifies a lot of the older Melbourne buildings, streets and laneways. “We were also aware that we would uncover basalt boulders when we excavated for the footings and pool, and that these could be kept on-site and utilised,” he says.

But the design is also an ode to the rugged beauty of the area’s old quarries. Along the banks of the Merri Creek and Darebin Creek in Melbourne’s north are several historical sites that were used to extract stone for many of the early significant Victorian buildings in the area.

“Large parts of Melbourne’s north sit on an old lava flow belt,” says Stanley. “This can be seen if you walk the creek trails, or pass through the land cuts heading out the Eastern Freeway.”

With his clients also looking for a sense of monumentality and texture with their home, in suburban Northcote, Stanley’s team started to explore the idea of using solid blocks of stone in key locations.

“We avoided the cost implications of using solid stone throughout the whole house,” he says, “instead deciding to treat the stones as feature elements that stand almost like sculptures. Being selective about where they appear means they have a bigger impact and a sense of intrigue.”

Once the concept for the materials was established, Stanley’s team set about developing the plan and form of the house. “We went back and selected where the key moments for locating the stones would be to give the most impact and dramatic experience as you move throughout the house,” he says.

The boulders used in Cornerstone House are a mix of basalt and granite. Some were procured from a supplier, others were excavated from the site. They’ve been used in their raw extracted state – dug up or split from the quarry walls. The large stones were first positioned on-site, then the house was built around them.

“There was no magic number for how many stones to use,” says Stanley. “However, there was a certain impact we needed to achieve within a budget, and combined with what we uncovered during excavation, that set the quantity.”

One of the most interesting applications, he says, are the stones at the entry, which is “total immersion into stacked boulders like a portal to the home”. The front door sits between four of these stones, which weigh between six and eight tonnes each. “You can feel their monumentality as you enter the house, and it creates that desired sense of durability, solidity and privacy,” says Stanley.

The kitchen island bench is another favourite.“It really lends itself to the large boulder integrated along the side. It’s right at the centre of the home’s activity and The interior spaces use lines and angles to create a sense of lightness. Above: The striking slatted facade

the inhabitants circulate around it as they use the kitchen.” Stanley says the most striking integration, though, is probably along the entry corridor, where the stone sits as equally part of the house and part of the garden and is beautifully accentuated by the thin glazing above it. His team has used materials aimed at creating a tension between contrasting conditions: hard-soft, heavylight, rough-smooth, raw-refined. Using this technique, they’ve created a highly textured set of interiors with a sense of drama, glamour and beauty, without being solely reliant on expensive finishes.

There is a constant dialogue between the rough grey stones, slender black steelwork and a variety of warm metallics. In the living room, crushed velvet in golden tones is used behind the bookshelves to create a unique display. Rose gold treated stainless steel is used in the kitchen to help the heavy benchtop float above the concrete floor.

Copper-finished lights add a refined accent to the ensuite and master bath. And warm metallic sheets break the external black cladding, changing from gold to auburn as the light changes with the time of day.

“Throughout our travels, my partner and I have always admired the use of stone in different ways,” Stanley says. “We travelled a lot in the mid-90s in Japan, and absorbed a lot about appreciating the natural beauty and imperfections in materials.”

The biggest challenge with this project, he says, was in the number of details that required resolution.

“We had to consider and refine many interactions between unforgiving and somewhat difficult materials to work with. Junctions between natural stone, steel and glass require a lot of thought and an excellent builder.”

As for the result, Stanley says: “We’re really happy with the balance of interest and refinement in this project. We set out to create something that would be unique, yet relevant to our clients, and that would give a sense of happiness to those who use it for a long time.”

20 Mona Place

’Caslake House’, a spectacular Marcus Martin family residence recently renovated under the guidance of Powell & Glenn Architects. Surrounded by Kate Seddon gardens. Enjoying spacious sundrenched formal and informal living zones with garaging for two cars. A highly desirable location close to elite private schools, moments from the Royal Botanic Gardens, Toorak Road restaurants, tram routes, the Yarra River and bike tracks to the city.

4 2 2 Private Auction: Tuesday 25th February View: By Appointment Saturday & Thursday 11.00-11.30am

24/7 View: caslakehouse.com.au Contact: Jock Langley 0419 530 008 Emma Pierson 0409 182 310 Office 9864 5300