Wooden beams and linear constructs that stitch your house with artistic grace and provide an abundance of natural light and air have you heard of the Cross – Stitch House and its new expression of contemporary architecture?
Artistic, sunny and welcoming this extension of a narrow Melbourne house is a quite impressive creation of FND Architects. The project’s innovative architectural construct creates a visual play of voids and fragile beams and provides plasticity of contour that grabs us immediately. The clear lines and the calmness of interior decor are achieved through the extensive usage of bespoke wooden constructs, wooden fittings added throughout the place that match the stitch elements, mirrors for visual extension of space and skylights that illuminate the premises.
FMD Architects used slender lengths of timber in a series of linear protrusions to “stitch” together the architectural construct and the garden areas (sustained in the same contemporary stylistic and dynamic approach) The new open-plan spaces intended for cooking, dining and lounging has custom-made fittings that match the stylistic of the whole construct- kitchen counter with triangular profile, shelvings with unusual and artistic shape are becoming an extension of the roof lines and this approach is replicated throughout the house ( including the bathroom) The romantic pool of water located just in front of the premise helps the natural ventilation of the living quarters . In the existing house, a generous light-well is created to bring an abundance of daylight into the bedroom, and additional custom-made wooden work extends the aesthetic idea of the new addition into the old premises.
The material palette dominated by the fragileness and purity of the timber works is supplemented by the generous presence of glass (as mirrors, decorative elements, and lighting solutions) that adds to the airy and fresh charm of the house. The restrained and pastel color palette allows the light wood and the whiteness of the walls to define the framework, where the unusual artistic shapes and clever fittings can stand out and grab the attention. Photography is by Peter Bennetts
