In south Melbourne, near the heart of the city’s business district, on the site of a former brothel known as the ‘Pink Palace’, stands a new building. It is the work of Studio Kennon, led by director and designer Pete Kennon.
‘It overlooks many of the city’s most iconic landmarks, including the Shrine of Remembrance, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Albert Park Lake,’ says Pete. ‘The site sits on the shoulder of St Kilda Road – an emerging micro precinct that lines the city’s major arterials and is surrounded by both cultural and natural infrastructure.’
Pete was engaged as the architect of the building in 2017 by Nicolas Crema from Project by Crema. They first met on the site and walked the neighbourhood, discussing how the top floor could be a singular residence, to ‘crown the building,’ as he puts it.
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He designed the 18-storey block as an exoskeleton, meaning the façade design is the structure. This allowed for complete freedom within to optimise the most functional layout. In the penthouse, the living spaces are linked to one another, each one feeling intimate yet with a sense of connection to the rest – crucial in giving a large residence a cosy, balanced feel.
The dining room with its pair of dramatic iceberg-like chandeliers is Pete’s favourite space. ‘It carries volume and excitement,’ he says, noting that they located it on the north side of the plan in order to make the most of the glittering sunset cityscape in the evening.
Pete describes the project as ‘a study in restraint’, explaining how his studio chose to focus on one particular material – Carrara marble – and explore how it could be used in different ways to add texture and depth. From striking mirrored slabs in the kitchen to delicate mosaics underfoot, the marble shifts in scale and presence as it moves through the home, balancing structure with softness and bringing a touch of mischief to an otherwise formal framework.
Taking full advantage of the home occupying a full floor, Pete prioritised the location of each space to optimise the sunlight and views. ‘The morning is graced by the sun rising over the Botanical Gardens and The Shrine beaming into the kitchen and living space,’ he notes.
‘Nic had enormous trust in my vision,’ Pete says of his relationship with his client, which endured over the course of the lengthy project. Quietly luxurious and perfectly in tune with the light as it moves around the building and floods every space at just the right moment, this home is a meditation on how we live — waking, bathing, cooking and resting – and an expression of the design values his practice embodies. kennon.com.au
