Jury comment
The jury unanimously agreed Troye Sivan House was the standout in the category. It displays a strong sense of the client’s character through a beautiful curation of art, furniture, lighting and objects in a way that doesn’t feel forced or contrived. In terms of scale, it’s very appealing because it achieves so much in such a small space. The designer has respected the building and celebrated the original architecture by John Mockridge, elevating it to a whole other level. One jury member commented on the seamless execution and how it feels like you can actually live in it, while another noted the project has a wonderful spirit that is overwhelmingly endearing and uplifting.
Design statement
A tri-level Melbourne home, originally a nineteenth-century hardball court set in a mews square reminiscent of residential London and transformed by architect John Mockridge in 1970 into Australia’s first warehouse conversion, has been transformed back to its bohemian spirit by honouring the original architecture.
The client wanted a space that acted as a humble sanctuary to his LA-based double life. Flack Studio responded to this through a complete redesign of the floor plan to focus on function and comfort. The design team wanted a space that felt honest with the client’s age yet would age gracefully with him for the next 50-plus years. The kitchen and bathrooms were completely re-structured by moving the powder room out of the kitchen and laundry out of the main bathroom, doubling the size of the kitchen and two bathrooms. The heritage architectural elements were retained to form a unique relationship with vintage and custom furniture. The raw and honest finishes allow harmony with the playful art curation.
Built on the land of the Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the Eastern Kulin Nation.
Project credits
Design practice — Flack Studio
Project team — David Flack
The Award for Residential Decoration supported by Sub-Zero Wolf. The Australian Interior Design Awards are presented by the Design Institute of Australia and Artichoke magazine. For more images of this project, see the Australian Interior Design Awards gallery.
