JCA Residence

Client: Private
Location: Mount Martha, Melbourne 2022
Building Design: Cahill Building Group
Builder: Cahill Building Group
Photography: Shannon McGrath
Editorial Styling: Swee Design

Studio Griffiths collaborated with the clients to create JCA Residence, a sanctuary rooted in a profound connection to its environment. This private home serves as a retreat for the family, offering a place to rest and rejuvenate.

JCA Residence presents as a simple, gabled structure that, at first glance, resembles a barn. Upon closer inspection, it reveals itself as a house rich in nuance, invention, and intricate detailing. The use of muted tones softens the home's otherwise monochromatic palette, enhancing its immersive quality.

Designed to sit harmoniously within its immediate landscape, the planning of JCA Residence is meticulously balanced. It provides privacy, defines spatial zones, and offers a reprieve from the nearby coastal village's hustle and bustle. The floor plan, wrapped in texture, reveals itself gradually, with most of the built volume hidden behind sculptural charred timber cladding and a rammed earth wall facing the street.

The kitchen, living, and dining zones are located at the rear of the home, benefiting from abundant natural light through floor-to-ceiling glazed windows that open onto the backyard and pool. A long island bench underscores the kitchen's social role, accommodating larger groups without sacrificing intimacy.

A show-stopping glazed wine room adds a modern touch to the casual living area, while a home office at the rear provides privacy and separation from the main living spaces.

The interiors of JCA Residence reflect an innovative and refined design approach, emphasizing sustainability in a contemporary manner. The dwelling features generous proportions and a cohesive approach to materiality, enhancing space to capture natural light and focused views.

Appliance selection and integration are crucial in creating a kitchen that reads as a piece of furniture within the open-plan living space. Minimalist steam and convection ovens blend seamlessly into the dark tones of the hand-painted cabinetry, allowing the stone and brushed-brass materials to take center stage.

Rammed earth reappears in the ensuite, where an abundance of natural light enhances the sense of grandeur without overwhelming the laid-back ambiance.