Meditative yet modern, The Gallery House by Workroom breathes a sanctuary-like air far removed from its surroundings. The three-storey home, situated in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak, is a contemporary departure from the post-war-era landscape in which it rests – an emblem, perhaps, of the dualities it harbours within. Whilst the façade is monochromatic and megalithic, the interior is pervaded by an earthy warmth. Yet, the indoors and outdoors sit on the same plane, exemplifying an osmosis of nature and the built form.

The brief for this project was notable for its dualities. “The clients wanted a keenly tailored home that was sumptuous yet subdued, private, but with great curb appeal,” says John Bornas, Creative Director of Workroom, adding that “this gave us the freedom to experiment with material, form and scale.” When Workroom took on the project, the site held a modest post-war home fairly typical of the area. So, in a bid to up-end the local architectural archetype, the team decided to tear down the original dwelling and start from the ground up, literally.

“We used the idea of a courtyard house to achieve privacy. But instead of a single courtyard at the heart, we created a series of them,” John explains. The move was rooted in a plural sense of purpose – to blur the boundary between the interior and the landscape in a way that afforded maximum privacy. By the same token, and in keeping with the studio’s minimalist signature, Workroom opted for a muted palette to keep things cohesive and give each material equal pride of place.

“We used a combination of concrete, stone, timber, terrazzo and linen to bring in warmth, colour and texture. Together, these materials reflect and filter light, create depth and add layers to each space,” John notes.

Via The Local Project