This Contemporary Home Was Designed to Feel Both Grand and Effortlessly Relaxed

A marble tiled pool courtyard uses greenery and an all white palette to create a private inner city oasis.

Tucked into one of Melbourne’s most prestigious suburbs, this contemporary Toorak residence by Architecton balances moments of architectural drama with spaces that feel genuinely welcoming. From the very first step onto the property, the house reveals itself slowly, guiding visitors through greenery, glass and open interiors made for both everyday living and large social gatherings.

From the very first step onto the property, this house reveals itself slowly, guiding visitors through greenery, glass and open interiors made for both everyday living and large social gatherings.

A Green Arrival That Sets the Tone

The experience begins before the front door comes into view. A landscaped path edged with lush greenery leads guests toward the entrance, softening the modern architecture and creating a quiet sense of anticipation. It is a gentle introduction that reflects the home’s broader approach, striking yet considered, modern yet inviting.

A landscaped entry path wrapped in greenery introduces this contemporary Toorak home with a calm and welcoming feel.

A Light Filled Front Room With Garden Views

Just inside the front door, the mood shifts to something more intimate. A home office and sitting area sit at the front of the house, framed by walls of glass that look directly onto the front garden. Ivy covered walls provide texture and privacy, allowing this space to feel connected to nature while remaining quietly tucked away from the home’s main social zones.

A glass wrapped home office and sitting area looks out onto ivy covered walls and the front garden.

Open Plan Living Built for Entertaining

At the heart of the home is a generous open plan living space where the kitchen, dining area and living room exist as one fluid zone. Designed to feel both refined and relaxed, the space is defined by its openness rather than walls. One side is lined with glass, while the opposite side can be opened directly to the outdoors, blurring the boundary between inside and out and making entertaining feel effortless.

Architecton’s use of scale and volume gives the room a sense of grandeur, while the free flowing layout ensures it never feels formal or stiff.

An expansive open plan living space connects kitchen, dining and lounge areas with seamless indoor outdoor flow.
An expansive open plan living space connects kitchen, dining and lounge areas with seamless indoor outdoor flow.
An expansive open plan living space connects kitchen, dining and lounge areas with seamless indoor outdoor flow.

A White Courtyard That Feels Like an Inner City Oasis

Stepping outside reveals a striking outdoor zone centred around a swimming pool set into marble tiling. The all white color palette, paired with lush greenery, creates the feeling of an exotic oasis hidden within the inner city. It is a space designed to be both visually calming and highly functional, equally suited to quiet afternoons or lively gatherings.

A marble tiled pool courtyard uses greenery and an all white palette to create a private inner city oasis.

An Outdoor Lounge With a Fire Pit

Another outdoor area offers a more relaxed atmosphere. Here, a lounge space is anchored by a freestanding fire pit, creating a place to gather as the evening cools. It adds a social layer to the outdoor design, extending the home’s entertaining potential well beyond the interior spaces.

An outdoor lounge with a freestanding fire pit adds warmth and atmosphere to the home’s exterior spaces.

A Wine Cellar Designed Like a Showroom

Inside, the home reveals one of its more dramatic moments. A wine cellar sits behind a floor to ceiling glass wall, turning storage into a visual feature. Hidden lighting gives the space a refined, showroom like quality, while sculptural timber chairs offer a quiet place to pause with a glass of wine. It is both functional and theatrical, a perfect example of the home’s balance between elegance and enjoyment.

A glass enclosed wine cellar with hidden lighting creates a refined, gallery like moment within the home.

A Bathroom with a Raised Platform

One of the bathrooms embraces a more sculptural approach. Tiled walls and floors create a unified backdrop for a freestanding bathtub, which sits on a raised platform. The layout turns a daily routine into a considered experience, using simple materials and careful positioning to make the space feel calm and indulgent.

A tiled bathroom with a freestanding tub on a raised platform brings a spa like calm to the interior.

A Dressing Room Designed for Display and Storage

In the dressing room, practicality meets visual order. Open shelving lines the walls, each shelf finished with mirrored interiors that reflect light and give depth to the space. A central island provides storage for accessories and smaller items, turning the room into a functional yet beautifully organised extension of the home.

A dressing room with mirrored shelving and a central island combines smart storage with a polished look.

Throughout the Toorak Residence, Architecton have explored how concrete, glass, timber and stone can work together to create spaces that feel grand without losing its sense of ease.


Photography by Jack Lovel | Architects: Architecton | Design Team: Nick Lukas, Daniel Galtieri, Clare O’Halloran | Collaborative Companies: Glowing Structures (lighting design), Bonacci (Structure), MAC (Services) | Builder: VCON