and space obstacles, and opening up this penthouse to expansive views of the city, gardens, sky and bay, Studio Tate interior architecture associate Liz Ride says she’s “extremely proud of the outcome and how our team intelligently worked together”. Our clients purchased the penthouse within The Melburnian apartment complex on St Kilda Road, Melbourne, seeking a space to better reflect their changing lifestyle and aesthetic sensibilities. The apartment was punctured by existing services risers and structural columns. When revising the floor plan, we were able to integrate certain elements within joinery or conceal them within new walls. Also, the extremely low ceiling heights in the corridor and kitchen resulted in squat looking joinery and a compressed sense of space. Through strategic manipulation we were able to gain significant height in these areas which dramatically impacted the overall volume. The penthouse’s orientation was pivotal. Positioned on the far eastern end of the complex, it has 360-degree views of the city, Royal Botanic Gardens and Port Phillip Bay, and our clients desired to maximise each vantage point. We proposed a calm, pared-back aesthetic that did not compete with the views. The interior scheme was inspired by our clients’ collection of Australian art and the surrounding environment, resulting in an outcome comprising monolithic forms, earthy yet subtle tones, and quality materials. As this was an amalgamation of two smaller apartments, we were able to revisit the spatial planning, enhancing living areas by removing a second powder room, and reorienting the home office to the views. The existing kitchen was opened up to reveal key sightlines, while a large walk-in robe was converted into an earthy red butler’s pantry indicative of the clients’ love of entertaining. A hidden door in the dining room facilitates a direct connection to the main bedroom suite, enabling the clients to freely circulate in the primary living spaces. To the south, a small bedroom was re-imagined as a home office, where the addition of a glazed partition wall offers uninhibited views across the living space to the city skyline. Throughout, we drew on the clients’ artworks to inform an earthy, natural palette and a fundamental approach to form. The kitchen’s robust expression of vein-cut travertine presents a striated landscape of natural tones that tells the story of the material’s formation in the earth. This is balanced by blackened timber veneer reminiscent of burnt bushland, adding to a refined pairing of materials that flows through the interior. Desert-inspired tones punctuate the palette – red travertine and ochre-veined black marble, crimson lacquered cabinetry, tan leather and red upholstery. ‘Pumpkin’ chairs by Pierre Paulin sit alongside an Eames ‘Walnut’ stool, while beyond, a limited-edition orange Flos ‘Snoopy’ lamp beacons from the home office. The permeability of the Ligne Roset ‘Prado’ sofa by Christian Werner was specifically chosen for its flexibility, reinforcing long sightlines across the apartment. The weighted backrests can be freely repositioned enabling our clients and guests to either focus towards the sweeping views or inwards to each other and the kitchen when entertaining. Our clients enjoy a highly functional floor plan that caters to their easygoing lifestyle. It shows that a restrained palette and simple forms can be beautiful – especially when the quality of the materials is exceptional. The study is now positioned in a wonderful location with sweeping city views. They also love the newly arranged kitchen, luxury bar and butler’s pantry for their positive impact on daily life as these amenities support their love for entertaining, good food and wine. The new look meets their functional and aesthetic requirements and serves as a true reflection of their personal style.
