Two identical white rectangular houses placed at ninety degrees to each other in Melbourne’s East Malvern present an intelligent and cost-effective approach to residential design by Justin Mallia Architecture.
Both buildings at Oak Grove feature the same folded front facade, derived from the site’s angular orientation to north, resulting in a geometry that breaks up what could have been a blocky appearance from the street, while enabling cross ventilation, north orientation and connection to outside.
“Each facade is designed to be suitable at two different orientations,” explains Justin. “The resulting appearance from the street is a series of differently folded shifting patchwork elevations rather than two identical buildings alongside one another.
A range of materials and finishes have been used, with a white on white palette cleverly unifying and beautifying inexpensive materials. Crafted details enable the materials to express themselves in places, with the timber framed structure exposed and painted white.
Openings to the garden setting of the suburb feature a range of transparencies, at times bringing the outdoors in, and at other times offering filtered light and privacy.
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