A Forever Home - Carlton North Residence by Project 12 Architecture

Set within the inner Melbourne suburb of Carlton North this project was comprised of a renovation and extension of a double fronted heritage listed, Victorian terrace. Having lived in the house for many years, the clients approached Project 12 Architecture with a brief to design their forever home.

The design needed to accommodate a family of five, with three kids entering their teenage years. The clients understood that the inner-city location meant it was unlikely their kids would not be moving out any time soon and so the design needed to adapt over time to suit their changing needs.

The programmatic brief called for 3 kids bedrooms, master suite, guest bed/studio, kitchen, butler’s pantry/laundry, dining, living space, rumpus room, family bathroom, study, storage space, outdoor entertaining area and a pool. All of this had to be accommodated on a relatively small site and respond to the heritage context and planning constraints of the typical inner suburban terrace typology.

The internal material palette to the main living areas was intentionally selective, wall panels and joinery and natural stone to the kitchen to provide warmth and texture. To compliment these tones, a lot of the furniture pieces were selected in a black timber stain, as seen in the Muuto Cover and Side Chair, the e15 Jean Stool and DWR Hew Side Table.

“In the living room, the Muuto Connect Sofa was a favourite for our client. They wanted to make sure the sofa was a classic, timeless piece, but also comfortable. The Cuoio Lounge Chair from Walter Knoll is one of my favourites. Given the living room isn’t that large, the lightness of the frame and overall design compliment the space perfectly,” said Goodwin.

“The inspiration for the furniture selection was to find classic, timeless pieces. Our brief from the client was to design their ‘forever home’. This meant that the furniture selection also had to stand the rest of time,” explains Aimee Goodwin, Project Architect, Project 12 Architecture.

Timeless colour blocking is a versatile and very easy way to create a cohesive elevated interior setting. Coordinating natural neutral tones will ensure a timeless space. This harmonious layering means you play with statement pieces or different styles of furniture to tell a design story. Throughout the home, the expressive use of warm timber elements has been united through carefully selected soft interiors creating considered moments of engagement. By identifying a duality, the home emerges as a series of balanced elements. In family life, there is a need to both come together and be independent and retreat, and the approach further cements this in both gest and a planning approach.

Inspired by place and people, Carlton North Residence is a five-bedroom family home that has become a place of connection through considered design intervention. Project 12 Architecture further gives depth to the everyday rituals as a result, allowing life to unfold.