This residential project was designed by Mitsuori Architects to extend and transform a conservative heritage home in inner suburban Melbourne into a dynamic space for a young family. Our challenge was to create an exciting yet functional family home that reflected our client’s preference for a sleek design aesthetic and love of the colour black. Photography Michael Kai.

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Can a family home be sleek and minimal? Absolutely. This project showed us that designing an architectural home for a family is about solving many, often opposing, design challenges by making a series of simple yet well considered moves.

Our clients desired a light filled family living zone that would become the heart of their home. They valued strong connections between the spaces, views to the garden and city, and well considered storage that would allow things to be packed away and spaces easily maintained.

Our design revolves around a double height void that brings light into virtually every space in the new addition. Thoughtful planning combined with bold use of materials, textures and glass are used to expand the views through each space and create a sense of volume and spaciousness. This void physically and visually connects the main living, kitchen and dining room to an open first floor landing, main bedroom, terrace and study area.

Our client loved the idea of incorporating black into their kitchen. We loved the idea of exploring black as a way of creating a dramatic backdrop for the presentation of feature elements and objects – a perpetual blank canvas. The result was a singular black kitchen wall incorporating all the cabinetry, appliances, benchtops and splashbacks. In front of the ‘canvas’ a custom designed marble & timber island bench is designed as a communal gathering space within the kitchen. To the side, a wall of timber conceals an appliance bay, fridges, pantry storage, and access through to a utility room with an external service entrance.

Beautiful, functional and in every way a family home.