Achieving a balance of contrasting materiality, Thornbury House conceals its private interior with a robust sleeve of concrete and glass. One Design Office proposes a home that responds to the variables of family life, embedding the flexibility of function and retreat.

Designed to echo the fabric of its streetscape in Thornbury, the same-named home sits nestled in the north of Melbourne. The home comes together as a combination of concrete, timber and glass elements to construct a presence of anticipation and privacy. A balance of security and openness was key in creating a home that would accommodate a growing family. Through expressing contrast between materiality and how shapes interact, One Design Office creates a home of varying moments and functions.

Spread over two levels, the focus is consistently to the rear landscape and shared garden ­– internal spaces strategically open to the outdoors to engage with sunlight and ventilation. Contrasting light and dark elements creates a dynamic palette within the home. Externally, dark timber cladding and concrete exude a bold presence, whereas the use of lighter materiality in the interior design allows the home to feel calm and inviting.

The central positioning of the dining area was important to the brief. With the intention of social gatherings being the centre of the client’s lifestyle, the living room, kitchen and rear garden orbit the dining area. The home’s design expresses the intended functionality of its spaces, with a focus on how moments of socialising and respite will occur.Despite the narrowness of the site, the placement and orientation of internal spaces enable Thornbury House to feel like a personal sanctuary.