Grieve Gillett Pty Ltd.

Maison Blanc

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan

MAISON BLANC

Grieve Gillett Andersen

AREA
405 m²

PHOTOGRAPHS
Sam Noonan

LANDSCAPE
Virginia Kennett Garden Design

DESIGN TEAM
Dimitty Andersen, Tim Fenton, Jaana Bithell

LEAD ARCHITECTS
Dimitty Andersen

BUILDER
Cavallaro Builders

ENGINEERING
PT Design Engineers

MANUFACTURERS
AutoDesk, Bisazza, Dulux, Hebel, Viridian, Academy Tiles, Acratex, Adelaide Marble Specialists, Basket range quarry, Construction Glazing, Premix 'Diamond" Salt and Pepper Grind, Trimble Navigation

YEAR
2015

CATEGORY
Houses

LOCATION
College Park, Australia

Text description provided by architect.

The architecture of Maison Blanc, a home for a family of five in a leafy inner-city suburb of Adelaide, South Australia, is an exploration of the misplaced notion of minimalist architecture as being an exercise in reduction.

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan

When labelled a minimalist, contemporary Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza responded by saying he is about ‘more with less’ as opposed to the ‘less is more’ manifesto of early Modernism. Like a carefully written poem, Maison Blanc is simultaneously simple, generous, abstract and rich.

When labelled a minimalist, contemporary Spanish architect Alberto Campo Baeza responded by saying he is about ‘more with less’ as opposed to the ‘less is more’ manifesto of early Modernism.

Like a carefully written poem, Maison Blanc is simultaneously simple, generous, abstract and rich.

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan

The existing sandstone villa has been reconfigured and reconsidered to be meaningfully integrated into the new design.

With an unusual orientation and convoluted existing floorplan, the old house required a radical rethink of the existing layout to achieve better access to views, natural light and spatial organisation.

New work involved establishing the interior’s private and public zones, relocating the living areas to maximise views and a connection to external spaces, as well as creating complementary service areas and adding a pool and tennis court.

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan

The resulting new internal spaces have been designed in sympathy with the scale and elegance of the existing home, but are stripped back to enable clear catchment of light and views with high focus clarity.

The architecture of the new work is sculptural and seamless, and detailing decisions throughout the project reinforce a stereotomic macros approach. Windows are frameless, doors slide in large planar elements, and walls and ceilings are treated continuously to create a carefully sculpted form.

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan

Often the front rooms of older homes are gloomy, museum-like spaces. However, a renovation makes high value use of all the older rooms to integrate them with the new design.

The beauty of these large-scale historic spaces has enabled them to be adapted as a glorious bedroom, ensuite, formal living room and a combined laundry and pantry.

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan
Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan

The design of Maison Blanc started with a sketch of a view to a small garden outside the study. This sketch simultaneously organised artwork, garden and functional space.

It drove the architectural direction that integrated landscape and interior into a legible whole. Landscape design was considered at the inception of the project and was a key design driver throughout the project.

Maison Blanc
© Sam Noonan


Maison Blanc
Floor Plan
Maison Blanc
Elevation

Grieve Gillett Pty Ltd.
T +61 8 82323626 F +61 8 82323625
Grieve Gillett Pty Ltd.
243 Pirie St, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia