Located in the heart of Melbourne, Australia, a modern home, architect Nick Lukas has designed for himself and his family for the Melbourne home balancing simple linear forms and raw materials such as concrete, steel and glass with elegant, detailed interiors. Externally, the building is a series of intersecting light and shade planes. Despite the extensive use of glass, the front facade is deliberately enclosed, creating a sense of protection away from the street with deep receding and double-height detached concrete walls.Operable black louver screens create an additional layer across the glazing that allows the level of privacy and sunlight to be controlled.

With both the exterior screen and the curtains inside covering the glass, it is the entry points that create a sense of volume. The dark front door and basement garage are inset slightly into the building, which draws the eye inward. The parallel lines that define the landscaping also emphasise these points of entry, with walls, paths, and garden beds all leading into the house, creating a sequence that moves from the street, through the garden, to arrive at the entrance.

The detached form of concrete was a key element of the design from the beginning. Removed from the front of the building, the two-storey concrete wall is the main structure, with the original material juxtaposed and balanced with delicate materials. On the outside, the overall quality of the material dominates, while on the inside, these aspects create a minimalist original shell with more elegant and refined elements layered. This, in turn, leads to architectural nuances.

With an approach that focused on enhancing and expressing the essential qualities of different materials, natural stone and delicate Japanese tiles play an important role in the interiors. Balancing the weighty presence of the concrete walls, large expanses of glass visually connect the interior to the garden outside.