Textured dark timber veneer and warm grey-honed limestone shapes the kitchen. The space also features chef-grade appliances such as the Gaggenau 200 Series oven, combi-steam oven and warming drawer in Anthracite, and the Grazia & Co. Iva stools.
Tectonic House, located in Melbourne’s Toorak, is an entertainment-focused family home enriched with functional yet beautiful design elements.
The home is born from a collaboration between architecture studio Cera Stribley and interior design studio SJB, unanimous on their meticulous and contemporary approach. The design is rooted in the client’s vision of creating comfortable, enduring spaces that effortlessly cater to social gatherings and a young family’s daily life. This vision materialises in the form of a kitchen characterised by sophisticated materials and kitchen appliances, delivering on both style and functionality.
In partnership with Gaggenau
Double-height, light-filled family living zones seamlessly connect to the outdoors. The living room features the Jardan Valley sofa and Zuster Artistry coffee table.
Cera Stribley set the direction for the project by designing double-height, light-filled family living zones that connect to the outdoors while upholding a cohesive visual language through materiality. The interplay of polished plaster, off-form concrete, fluted glass, textured dark timber veneer and warm grey-honed limestone culminates in ambient and cultivated living spaces. “Simplicity of form and function, coupled with a focus on functionality, durability and longevity of materials and finishes, were paramount considerations in shaping the interiors,” Ljiljana Gazevic, SJB director, interior design explains. “The design aims to evoke serenity for the homeowners,” she adds.
The positioning of the kitchen within the expansive, double-height family living zone inspired the design team to incorporate monolithic, Brutalist-inspired forms and skilfully manipulate scale – as the project’s name suggests. This approach is enhanced by the chef-grade appliances, cementing the kitchen as an entertainer’s space.
The Gubi Pacha lounge chair and Nemo AMC2 floor lamp.
The formal dining room, lined in Made by Story Cinder French Oak floorboards, features a custom stone table by Made by Morgan, the Zuster Husk chair and Moooi Meshmatics chandelier.
“When conceptualising a kitchen, key factors we consider in appliance selection include the client’s lifestyle, their approach to entertaining, and their individual style preferences,” Ljiljana says. “In this instance, our clients derive joy from both cooking and hosting gatherings, necessitating appliances that support their culinary pursuits.”
This consideration guided SJB’s choice to incorporate the Gaggenau 200 Series oven, combi-steam oven and warming drawer, all finished in an elegant Anthracite to complement the surrounding materials. “The Gaggenau appliances are expertly designed and crafted, with a selection of external finishes that add value to the home’s overall design outcome,” Ljiljana affirms.
While the first floor houses the kitchen, living room, BBQ terrace, separate office, sitting room and formal dining space, the lower-ground level houses auxiliary entertainment spaces, including a home cinema, gym, wine cellar and tasting room. This internal programming, inclusive of five bedrooms and three bathrooms spread across the different levels, effortlessly balances family life, work and leisure across public and private realms.
“Simplicity of form and function, coupled with a focus on functionality, durability and longevity of materials and finishes, were paramount considerations in shaping the interiors.”
- Ljiljana Gazevic, SJB director
A glimpse into one of the bedrooms reveals the home’s panoramic skyline views. Tucked away in the corner is the Miniforms Soda side table.
A sculptural staircase connects the different levels and exemplifies “simplicity of form and function”.
The Fritz Hansen Night Owl table lamp
