A Magical Oasis
August 2nd, 2011 § Leave a Comment
7a Hargreaves Street, Fitzroy
Surrounded by warehouses, studios and workshops, this award-winning property is a lush retreat in the heart of hip Fitzroy.
This warehouse conversion isn’t brand new (it was designed more than 20 years ago by Slovenian-born Ivan Rijavec) but thanks to a clever design it still looks modern. While the architect was brought up in Western Australia, much of his work has contributed to Melbourne’s urban landscape and he was included in the Melbourne Masters Architecture exhibition in 2004. His reel of awards has been peppered with wins for warehouse and studio conversions and he won an RAIA Award for this one in 1990.
From the street, foliage creeps over the roof of the house- a whisper of what’s inside.
The highlight of this property is the atrium; the house is built around this space. Soaring floor-to-ceiling windows enclose a massive emerald screen, where greenery cascades down a huge brick wall into a pool of water. Every inch of space is designed to capture the dappled, flickering light filtering through the glass.
The entire house is open plan and has an organic feel, with the floor plan swaying and curving from room to room.
The ground floor features polished concrete floors, with the front door opening directly into the living and dining space. The kitchen is adjacent, featuring Miele and Smeg appliances and a glossy laminex benchtop.
The floor plan then flows past the atrium and powder room to three expansive, open rooms- perfect for an office, studio or even sitting rooms.
Light fittings really catch the eye: large, modern pendant lights drop from the ceilings and seem to punctuate the rooms.
Next to the atrium, stairs lead up to the main bedroom, with an en suite, fireplace and private deck overlooking the huge courtyard.
Beams criss-cross the first floor, breaking the space up into sections and creating cosiness.
There are also polished floorboards, two extra bedrooms, another bathroom, a laundry and a gym upstairs.
The property has a garage, security and irrigation systems.
Inspection by appointment only. Contact JC Street Real Estate on 9600 4988.
Author: Claire Knox, The Age
