Tandem House by Fiona Drago
Modern and measured, Tandem House by Fiona Drago plays on contrasts of light and dark, consisting of a tandem stitching of two separate building spaces.
Words: Georgie Ward | Photography: Tom Blachford
Internally, the approach is restrained and considered, with a minimal palette of clean finishes that come together with ease and a matched simplicity. Photo: Tom Blachford
Dark concrete floors reinforce this industrial, robust feel to the home. Photo: Tom Blachford
Located in the dense area of Hawthorn, in Melbourne’s inner east, Tandem House by Fiona Drago challenges the traditional residential design rules.
Pushing the norm, this modern and sleek home has two separate spaces, both with an upper floor, yet concealed within a traditional single storey pitched roof silhouette.
The two masses are connected by a petite courtyard space that allows the natural light to flood the centre of the home and its basement area. While breaking conventional design with its contemporary twist, the home still pays homage to the historical architectural language of its surroundings by aligning with the rooflines of neighbouring properties, making sure to not overbear.
The brief for the project focused upon a functional and modern home, with a number of specific requests, including a cellar for 1,000 wine bottles, a home office space, a spare bedroom for family relatives, and a roof deck to view the city skyline.
The interior palette is light and airy, with timber furnishings and crisp white walls contrasted by slightly moodier and darker accents, making the home a striking balance of light and dark.
The insertion of an open void at the core of the home offers an opportunity for the creation of a hierarchy of zoning internally, as well as the introduction of natural light to enter deep within the spaces. Photo: Tom Blachford
Fiona Drago has combined key planning and a reinforcing of a formal approach on site to propose an enduring home of purpose. Photo: Tom Blachford
Tandem House is a study of restraint and beautifully captures the resolve of working modestly within a respectful understanding of context. Photo: Tom Blachford
Decoration is minimal and kept simple within each space of the home, with a few modern art pieces sprinkling the vast walls of the home, it simply allows the beauty of materiality to show for itself.
With its uncomplicated interiors, texture is the showcase element, with concrete floors, smooth hazelnut-coloured timber surfaces, tiled splash backs, textured rugs and velvet couches, the home is a sensory delight.
Possessing the flexibility to allow family members to either socialise or retire to their own quarters, the house features a spacious living zone that stretches across the first building block, and a number of generously-sized bedrooms.
Clad in a combination of metal and masonry, the exterior combines zinc sheets with detailed, textured brickwork. The timber fence line adds a level of warmth and additional texture to the home's mostly industrial, robust exterior.
Entering the home, concrete floors sweep each space, further enhancing the industrial and contemporary feel. To offset the hardness of the home, Fiona Drago ensured access to natural light was created throughout each space.
Both the courtyard and skylights ensure the petite home has access to natural light and views, allowing a unique relationship to occur beyond the built elements.
The home’s timber fencing adds a touch of warmth and saturation to the colours of its exterior. Photo: Tom Blachford
The hallway echoes the simplicity and unadorned nature of the home, with an emphasis on textures and materials. Photo: Tom Blachford
Simple, modern art pieces adorn the walls of the home. Photo: Tom Blachford
The bathroom shows off the home’s airy, light colour palette of whites, greys, blacks and warm wood notes. Photo: Tom Blachford