Krause Emperor bricks from Robertson's Building Products Pty Ltd were an important part of the materials palette selected for a new home in Hampton in the Melbourne suburbs.
Designed and built by the team at mckimm for a family of four, Hoyt House is a liveable, warm and inviting three-bedroom home exuding casual luxury in every thoughtful detail. Design highlights such as the feature brickwork, large open breezeways, natural light-filled interiors, seamlessly interconnecting living spaces, and a beautiful combination of water, greenery and natural materials add to the timelessness of the home’s aesthetic.
The home’s rectilinear form and a multi-layered façade of bricks, concrete and glass provide a feast of finishes and textures that continues throughout the home’s interior.
“Our design team selected the materials palette with the goal of layering natural materials such as timber, brick, concrete and steel,” comments mckimm.
For the façade’s feature brickwork, the architects sought a unique, elongated brick and found the perfect fit in the Krause Emperor brick in Mid Range.
“We were looking for a unique brick that was thin and had a beautiful character. We also wanted the brick to blend in to the other natural elements, such as the American Oak timber of the doorway. And the Krause Emperor Bricks had a great variance of light and dark shades,” says mckimm.
The tranquil water feature at the front entrance, flanked by lush green plantings and cantilevered concrete steps, softens the façade and adds a striking visual interest. The water focus continues in the back garden where mckimm sought to, “create a home wrapped around its north-facing pool and where light flooded the main living areas”.
The result is a U-shaped home where the boundaries between the inside and outside are beautifully blurred.
The home lets in an abundance of natural light in every living space. Floor to ceiling sliding glass panels welcome north facing light into the kitchen and living areas, seamlessly connecting them and creating a relaxing and open indoor/outdoor connection. Below the main living areas, a bar, wine store, media zone and powder room provide a well-hidden retreat for owners and friends alike.
The owners love their new home. According to mckimm, the family was “overwhelmed with the finished product. They loved how the home flowed from one zone to the other, and they loved the natural materials and the way we layered them throughout the home”.
Photographer: Dave Kulesza
