Lang 靚 is a new double storey house in South Yarra, Melbourne, that reflects the owners’ vision for “a wellness-enhancing home that is architectural and inspirational.” The result of exploring “a different sort of mindset,” the design purposely avoids hallways and corridors and instead maximises potential for open space, natural light and greenery, on a relatively small inner-city sized block. Arranged around three distinct garden zones with large openings, the connections between internal and external spaces are interwoven; providing the inhabitants (a family of four) with an ‘airy calmness’, to pursue the things they love - reading, cooking, socialising and kicking a ball in the backyard. With the focus on creativity, efficiency and unique storage solutions, Lang celebrates clutter-free living and ‘forever home’ adaptability. Beyond the equitone cladding and fluted glass frontage the internal space is voluminous and bright, with kitchen, dining and living room expanding the full length, while the width incorporates an internal courtyard garden. A soaring and sculptural curved timber ‘tree-trunk’ contains bathrooms above and below, while the entry features a pull-down Murphy bed, concealed storage and privacy curtains, to pivot as a guest bedroom. Upstairs there is a dedicated laundry and outdoor drying zone, two bedrooms and a bathroom, and a main bedroom, with walk in robe and ensuite. A multipurpose rumpus room occupies the area in between, serving as a playroom for the owner’s two young children, with future potential as a study, teenage hangout or parents’ retreat. THE BRIEF The owners provided a thorough and well-researched brief; specific in their goals, aware of the site limitations and encouraging creative solutions and architectural flair. They were “determined” to live in a home without hallways and corridors,” to avoid feeling boxed or compartmentalised and to circumvent poor ventilation and heat retention in summer. They asked for their home to be highly pragmatic and efficient - in energy, cost and use of space, but also to show uniqueness and creativity. To make “something different.” They wanted multi-functionality, an abundance of natural light and a connection to greenery in every room, as well as a reading nook, concealed study, hidden pantry, lots of storage and a garage (to fit one car and four bicycles). Their suggestions included curved elements, playing with light and shadow, contrasting textures (such as wood and concrete) and creating a void between the two storeys. The owners summarised their brief in three words: ‘Wellbeing. Efficiency. Inspirational.’ TOUGH ON THE OUTSIDE Lang’s external structure is deliberately austere and resilient, befitting its location on a residential street just off the busy main thoroughfare of Punt Road. Clad in durable, anti graffiti, heat resistant equitone, the form is rectilinear grey boxes with sharp edges. The equitone sheet is arranged in a chevron pattern, visually striking and tactile, the owners say “people frequently stop to take photos and touch the walls.” In Chinese and Cantonese, Lang 靚 means ‘pretty’. DELIBERATIVE DESIGN Massed on the western side of the site, the house steps down to the east to protect the neighbour’s light and garden. Analysing and assessing exisiting conditions generated much of the form - the intelligent reaction was to concentrate the height and mass against the adjoining neighbouring bulk on boundary. A slight gradient on the site, sloping from back to front, also leant itself to an internal level change that defines the edge of the living area and becomes a perfect seat (45cm high) in the kitchen and garden. A large fluted glass panel was incorporated into the sheet cement facade, to provide privacy and passive surveillance, whilst allowing for an abundance of natural light. At the rear of the house, the second level (main bedroom) deliberately extends half a metre further out, to provide passive solar shade for the lounge area beneath. SOFT CENTRE In contrast to the tough exterior, the interior is softened by natural timber and tonal materials, lush foliage and gentle curves. A soaring and sculptural timber ‘tree-trunk’ contains the bathrooms above and below, linking the two spaces and creating cohesion. The ground floor area is open plan but subtly nuanced, gently pinched by the bathroom and an internal garden, which is enhanced and magnified with the use of mirror. The garden downstairs is reflected upstairs in the beautiful green ‘Amazon Depths’ (Dulux) colour of the inbuilt cabinetry in the main bedroom. MAXIMISING SPACE The owners were originally concerned that their small inner city block wouldn’t be large enough to create the home they envisaged. To maximise the space horizontally and vertically, large windows and openings were used on three sides while a void was created along the fourth wall. A white perforated steel section of stair continues the transparency of the void, allowing for a further increase in air circulation and volume. With large openings at each end, the garage is an extension of the ground floor space, with budget allocated to the ground material. Rather than a standard slab, concrete sleepers create a flow to extend the courtyard and entertaining area through to the street. A considered extension of space. DETAIL AND CONSIDERATION Architectural involvement in any project is typically evidenced in the detail, and certainly at Lang every detail was thoroughly considered. From the circular light fittings veneered in the same timber as the staircase and cabinetry; to the chevron grey tiles in the ensuite which reference the texture, pattern and colour of exterior facade; to the bedroom light fittings custom powered-coated in soft peach, picking up the colour of the bathroom vanity. There are curved details that add coherence and uniformity, overtly used in the curvature of the timber clad bathroom, the bow of the concrete step, the curtain rail privacy screens and the island bench, and more discreetly in the shape of the shower hand rail and custom cut mirror. Many of the considerations had logic, such as siting the laundry upstairs, closer to the bedrooms and bathrooms. Where a setback was required on the western boundary we created a small balcony directly off the laundry, ideal for an outdoor clothes line and a place, out of sight, to efficiently stack all the services. Though deliberately open plan there are two areas within the ground floor layout that can be curtained off to allow for privacy when required - a reading/study corner and guest accomodation with double bed and dedicated storage. Responding to the brief for clutter-free flexibility, a number of elements are secret, concealed or detailed to appear as flush wall panels. In the entry wall there is a secret door to the garage, and also a concealed cupboard for storing coats, shoes and bags. Within the kitchen /living cabinetry, beside the usual integrated white goods, there is a dedicated wine store, an appliances bench and a sizeable study with shelving and inbuilt desk. Another highly considered detail is the steel support column, brought inside to avoid disrupting the fluted glass window at the front of the house. Appearing more ladder than column by design, it serves an open shelf, for keys and trailing plants. Upstairs, where the need for bedrooms meant ‘cells’ could not be avoided, the doors are full height, floor to ceiling, to create the sense and feeling of having no corridors. Builders: Dimpat Landscape Designers: Normark Landscapes Project Team: Andrew Maynard, Mark Austin, Claire Ward Building Surveyors: Code Compliance