At Eaglemont Residence, an architect designs an entire family home around a strong architectural language softened by materiality, landscape and the rhythms of family life. Located 15 to 20 minutes north-east of Melbourne’s CBD, the residence by Adam Kane Architects is conceived as a forever home for a family with three young children. Monumental forms establish a sense of permanence from the street, while layers of texture and considered detailing ensure the architecture remains calm, practical and connected to its setting.
Responding to a steeply sloping site, the home presents as two storeys at the front before extending to three at the rear. When an architect designs an entire family home across these changing levels, circulation becomes central to how the spaces are experienced. Rather than revealing everything immediately, carefully positioned sightlines offer glimpses of gardens, distant vegetation, the mountain range and even the pool as occupants move throughout the residence.
From the street, a series of monolithic forms creates privacy from neighbouring properties. Approaching the entrance, however, the architecture gradually opens. Beyond the front door, a framed sightline stretches through the building towards the horizon before the interior expands into a double-height foyer, where a sculptural spiral staircase connects all three floors.
The living, dining and kitchen areas continue this sense of openness, with expansive views and natural light balanced by a restrained material palette. Feature brick moves seamlessly from outside to inside, while warm veneer cabinetry conceals everyday necessities. A monolithic island forms the centrepiece of the kitchen. In this way, an architect designs an entire family home through a balance of sculptural expression and practical requirements.
The kitchen was also informed by how the clients prefer to cook. Rather than placing every functional element on display, appliances are integrated with restraint. Gaggenau’s Expressive series of ovens was selected for its detailing and craftsmanship, with elements such as the ventilation grille recessed flush with the adjoining wall. Hand-finished stainless steel and precise framing complement the architectural approach without becoming overly prominent.
Connection between family members remains fundamental to the planning. Bedrooms and living spaces allow the family to come together while retaining moments of separation without isolation. As an architect designs an entire family home, these relationships between communal and private spaces help the residence support both daily life and changing needs over time.
Adam Kane Architects’ pursuit of a timeless aesthetic is expressed through deep reveals, grounded forms and a close relationship with the surrounding landscape. The intention is for the architecture to gain another dimension as the gardens mature, allowing the building to settle further into its site. Ultimately, an architect designs an entire family home with an enduring sense of permanence, where architecture, interiors, appliances and landscape are brought together through careful refinement and attention to detail.
0:00 – Introduction To Eaglemont Residence By Adam Kane Architects
1:24 – Designing A Forever Home For Family Life
2:20 – A Journey Through The Home
3:45 – Integrating Appliances With Considered Detail
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Photography by Timothy Kaye.
Architecture and interior design by Adam Kane Architects.
Interior decoration by Nickolas Gurtler.
Build by Dimpat.
Appliances by Gaggenau.
Filmed and edited by Enough Said Studio.
Production by The Local Production.
Location: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
The Local Project acknowledges the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the Traditional Custodians of the land in Australia. We recognise the importance of Indigenous peoples in the identity of our country and continuing connections to Country and community. We pay our respect to Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Indigenous people of these lands.
