Located in the Melbourne suburb of Toorak, this three-storey courtyard villa is starkly different from its post-war landscape — perhaps a symbol of the duality it embodies. Although the exterior walls are monochromatic, the interior is imbued with rustic warmth. Indoor and outdoor on the same plane, embodying the penetration of nature and architectural forms.

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“Clients want a carefully customised home that is luxurious and understated, private but with great appeal,” says John Bornas, creative director at Workroom, adding, “that gives us the freedom to experiment with materials, forms and scale. So, in order to subvert the local architectural prototype, the team decided to demolish the original dwelling and start from scratch, from the literal point of view. “We use the idea of quad homes to achieve privacy. But we didn't create a single courtyard in the center, we created a series of courtyards,” John explains.

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It's rooted in multiple purposes—blurring the lines between interior and landscape to provide maximum privacy. For the same reason, in keeping with the minimalist style of the studio, Workroom opted for a soft palette to maintain the cohesion of things and give equal status to each material. “We use a combination of concrete, stone, wood, millstone and linen to bring warmth, color and texture. Together, these materials diffuse and filter light, creating depth and adding layers to each space,” John points out.

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From the street, the house looks almost incongruous with the surroundings, thanks to the monochrome facade with a prism, which hides the entrance from view. As the family slowly manifests itself, it is obvious that the aesthetic qualities will only get better. For example, the entrance passage is characterized by a Zen courtyard garden and a concrete staircase, which also emphasizes the sculptural feel.

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When it comes to natural light, a thoughtful approach is key. “Light, whether natural or artificial, can make or break a project. We are not letting light in unselectively, but rather we have designed interventions that help introduce it into the right space at the right time,” John avers. Combining ingenious directions, slanted openings, shading, and reflections, the space continues to conjure up a series of sun-dappled environments. “Light is not one-dimensional, nor are our buildings. However, in these downtown properties, you are often limited in terms of location. Often, the best direction cannot be achieved, so you need to be creative. We try to let the light enter the house from different directions, but over time, the quality changes.

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