Yarra’s Edge is a village overlooking the Yarra River that promises its residents all the perks of inner-city living with the calm and quiet of a suburban home. With a variety of living options available, including terrace houses, private homes and high-rise apartments, the precinct’s design encourages residents to live an active lifestyle by strolling along the riverside promenade or going out to enjoy the outdoor theatre.
While the lifestyle is perhaps the major drawcard for residents of Yarra’s Edge, the stylish homes are a welcome bonus. Here we take a look at one of luxurious townhouses decorated in a mid-century modern style and chat to Mirvac’s Design director, Michael Weiner.
In the kitchen, an informal dining space extends out from the island bench. ‘Apen’ stools are from King Living and the artwork is by Lisa Morgan from Studio Gallery in Melbourne.
What was the starting point for the project and how does the design reflect the local lifestyle?
We wanted to maximise being right on the water, and create light-filled, flexible indoor/outdoor spaces while referencing the maritime/industrial heritage of the site.
We did this by creating a series of vertically modulated terraces with the defining design element being what I call jewelled boxes in materials that reference the site’s history such as raw tinted concrete, zinc and copper that age over time.
The houses have a very strong sculptural form and a sense of uniqueness and individuality.
What were the challenges and how did you resolve them?
The houses are organised around a three-storey space with a large skylight and all the rooms open on to this. The sense of light and space is truly special. Ensuring this sense of volume, space and light was a primary design goal.
The living room is flooded with plenty of natural sunlight streaming in through floor-to-ceiling windows. Pink ‘Oliver’ tub chairs from King Living.
A console table with a marble top in the home office sits below an artwork by Claire Kirkup.
How would you describe the completed interior?
The interior architecture and the exterior reference the inspiration for the site, creating a holistic composition and apartment living experience.
The light, space, connection to the river and materiality create a sense of wellbeing and calm.
What are some favourite design elements?
The jewelled boxes on the exterior, the three-storey void with the skylight that fills the house with light, the master bedroom that feels like it is hovering over the river and the roof terrace overlooking the city and the river are all fabulous.
A mid-century style timber console adds warmth to the contemporary living room. On the console is a ‘Decoration Circle’ by Kristina Dam Studio from Designstuff.
Views of Melbourne’s CBD are visible from the outdoor terrace.
What informed the selection of fittings and finishes?
We wanted the houses to be luxurious and refined, with a connection to the heritage of the site and a warmth that said home.
How do you envisage a future owner using this space?
We try to create opportunities for different ways of living, with flexible spaces and colour schemes that allow owners to reflect their personalities.
A ‘Neo’ bed with pastel pink bedhead forms the basis of the master bedroom’s calming palette. The bedlinen is from Sheridan.
A terrazzo stone bathtub is the centrepiece of this spa-like main bathroom.
