The Turn House by Architecton

The Turn House is a contemporary extension to a 1927 Melbourne property, designed by Architecton for owners whose pride and joy is a 1970 Ford XY. The original layout offered only one garage bay, so the project introduces a mechanical turntable that allows two vehicles to enter and then rotate within the garage. Architecton led the exterior architecture, with interiors by the clients Tony and Caroline Culina of Novo Homes and styling by Jenny Nobilo of Furnish Solutions.

The brief asked for a confidently contemporary addition that would feel dramatic and elegant yet remain practical, comfortable and warm. The design responds to the generous northern aspect of the site by knitting indoor and outdoor living together, opening the home to landscaped gardens and a pool. The challenge was to set a bold new architectural form against an existing residence and structural framework without losing sensitivity to the surrounding precinct.

The solution is to leave the new architecture openly contemporary, juxtaposed with the original building and softened by extensive landscaping. The result is a residence designed for entertaining and family life, with an unusual mechanical solution at its heart.

Completed 2016. Project size 750 m2.

Architect Architecton, lead architect Nick Lukas. Photography by Nic Granleese.