Unassuming at first glance, this Templestowe home by Figr Architecture & Design slyly reveals its unique shape upon entry. Divided into three landscaped zones, the design of the house embraces indoor to outdoor living, with a courtyard acting as a centrepiece for the design and the heart of the home. Shrouded by the building, this central courtyard provides a place for the family to enjoy a green space without the prying eyes of neighbours, but also acts as a structural way to bring in light and space to what could have been a very traditional home.

DESIGN Figr Architecture & Design PHOTOGRAPHY Tom Blachford STYLING Ruth Welsby

Figr Architecture & Design cite the traditional Italian Palazzo as a key influence on the design, which is made clear through the emphasis on connecting indoor and outdoor spaces in both form and function. To add contemporary character to the brown-brick exterior the design employs a refined material palette of sandy timber, terrazzo and marble, paired with crisp white walls for additional lightness.

The furniture selection is similarly restrained, favouring tan, cream and matte-black furnishings and details throughout the home. The natural colours work a charm to highlight the greenery outside – the effect is a calming, intimate space that shares the soul of an Italian palazzo with an effortlessly modern style.

Elongated brown brick was used to celebrate the exterior fabric of the surrounding Templestowe landscape and its working class roots, and a further play on the horizontal nature of the built form proportions. The brick is also used inside to create a series of colonnades that break up the expansive courtyard windows.