Gable Park by Weaver+Co Architects
Drawing from the materiality and forms of the surrounding neighbourhood, Gable Park by Weaver+Co Architects fosters connection without forsaking privacy.
Words: Hande Renshaw I Photography: Tasha Tylee I Editorial Styling: Jess Kneebone I Furniture Selection: Lucy Marczyk Design Studio I Build: CBD Contracting Group I Landscape Design: Ben Scott Garden Design
Weaver+Co Architects drew inspiration from the context of the neighbourhood, materials and architectural elements.
Located in Yarraville, the site housed a previous weatherboard bungalow, which was in poor condition and was removed.
The interior features a neutral and subdued palette.
Gable Park by Weaver+Co Architects is home to a busy family of five.
The living spaces have been thoughtfully positioned to focus on the north facing garden.
The design of Gable Park in Yarraville, Naarm/Melbourne by Weaver+Co Architects was based on the concept of how a new house in a suburban environment should interact with the street and neighbourhood.
The new two-storey home for a busy family of five seamlessly integrates with neighbouring homes, drawing on connection to the outdoors, while also providing a sense of refuge and privacy for the family. With a park on its doorstep, the close proximity of nature is celebrated within, through a layout that blurs the lines between inside and out.
The minimal, yet incredibly functional interior imbues soft foundations, drawn from the context of the neighbourhood, materials and architectural elements make the home seem like it has always been there. ‘The surrounding context includes many older period homes with dominant roof forms, front setbacks and verandas—the prevailing forms, materials and features of the street and wider context informed a sympathetic design response,’ shares Martyn Weaver, Weaver+Co director.
On the ground floor, the living spaces have been thoughtfully positioned to focus on the north facing garden and the park beyond. Functionality is achieved with the use of deep joinery to form walls, providing storage space that doesn’t forsake the minimal design of the interior. On the upper floor, there is a view out onto the street, privacy for the bedrooms and bathrooms was achieved with the placement of a screened gable roof. ‘Gable Park provides a large dynamic solution that can open or closed, blurring public and private visual thresholds and enriching the experience for all,’ Martyn says.
The synergy between functionality and design, with a focus on sustainability, was a driving force for Weaver+Co Architects; internal walls are thicker, with deeper thresholds and increased insulation, coupled with expansive, draft-free lift and slide window systems on the ground floor, the house features commendable sustainable credentials. Achieving a 7.7-star NatHERS energy rating, the home also features underslab insulation, verandahs and overhangs for shading, and the inclusion of standard features such as underground water tanks, indoor rainwater use and solar panels. The application of locally made bricks further grounds the home within its context, balancing with detailed features like the visible gutters and downpipes on the exterior.
‘Gable Park ultimately attempts to focus on things that matter—space, light, connection to people, and comfort in being present and aware of the surrounding environment,’ adds Martyn.
Nature is celebrated within, through a layout that blurs the lines between inside and out.
“Gable Park ultimately attempts to focus on things that matter—space, light, connection to people, and comfort in being present and aware of the surrounding environment.”
With a park on its doorstep, the interior is harmonised with its surroundings.
A synergy between function and design was a driving force of the project.
Curated greenery allow degrees of privacy and openness to be controlled.
The subdued and calming palette extends to the bedrooms and bathrooms.
