The Darling, Kingsford
Architect: Apto & Best
Stylist: Atelier Lab
Generously and judiciously laid across its sloping site, The Darling presents a luxuriously immersive consequence of outlook, light and lifestyle. Dreamily illuminated from the inside out by Euroluce lighting and enjoying a scrupulous design by Peter Dunkley, the home’s fusion of familial functionality with exacting aesthetics is striking. Illustrating the narrative of its considered synthesis, an exploration of layers and angles elegantly emerge, forming an aligned and robust retreat for its residents. Throughout its creation, The Darling fostered a remarkable sense of kinship amongst its owners and the congregation of professionals assembled to craft the home. The result of such productive relationships sees an arresting form created that displays its amalgamation of capabilities without reservation.
For the owners, there is a story of enduring existence at the site – one of new and old memories for the place rooted with family history. At the time of briefing, the family had already called the address home for 35 years and intended for the home to be enjoyed for generations to come. Armed with an abundance of ideas and practical aspects of their lifestyle, the concept for the home was shaped heavily by its way of usefully serving the family unit.
The Darling, named in memory of the family’s patriarch, was to undergo a refurbishment to transform its existing structure. Upon meeting with Peter, who pored over the owner’s detailed vision with vigour, the decision was made to rebuild the home with a renewed layout, allowing each carefully considered aspect of the brief to materialise while retaining the block’s sentimental soul. It is apparent that a great level of confidence was established in these rudimentary stages of planning between Peter and the family, with Peter recounting, “I’m not sure why, but from my first meeting with them there was some strange connection between us. I could tell they trusted me and that made me very determined to help them create a forever dream family home.”
Euroluce Lighting
It looks fantastic in the day or night – possibly better at night because of the external lighting
Intimately tied to its setting, the genesis of The Darling’s rebirth required consideration of several site constraints that would ultimately produce the distinguishing features of the home’s intricately modelled form. Most pressing was the welcoming of natural light into the space while remaining within the local council’s height restrictions. Although possessing an advantageous view of a golf course behind the site, the east fronting and west backing with a significant fall towards the rear and a neighbouring large home flanking the plot presented a challenge. Another consideration came from the family, with the request for all rooms to have a view of either the front courtyard, pool or golf course and a desire to have very specific, non-direct lighting in the family’s beloved snooker room to create the optimal playing conditions.
Drawing upon this, the design and layout prompted imperative ideation of apertures, lighting and angularity to maximise illumination and outlook. Harnessing the hearty width and slope of the block, Peter and Hayden Wooldridge of Apto & Best Architects laboured synergistically to transform Peter’s vision for the levels of the site, producing a sketch that would underpin the final design. “I actually started the design concept with sections, not floor plans,” Peter explains. “With the help of Hayden’s creative vision and enthusiastic mindset, we created lots of different angles throughout the house to help with natural light and height restriction. So, a lot of the challenges of the site had turned to positives.”
Peter worked closely with Acubuilt’s Tai Nguyen to realise the plans. “Tai and I go back about 15 years, when he used to work for my building company,” Peter explains. “He has aways been the ultimate professional with the attitude that nothing is too hard or can't be built. He sets really high standards for his staff and has an eye for detail that has to be seen to be believed.” Working together with such a close-knit and experienced team allowed Peter to bring the home to life. “Through Peter,” the owners reflect, “we were able to meet our builder Tai Nguyen from Acubuilt, who is trustworthy, personable and has an amazing attention to detail.” Adding, “we are very fortunate to have him lead the project build.” Peter agrees, reflecting, “I can honestly say that without having Tai with me throughout this project, the clients wouldn’t have the home they have today.”
It looks fantastic in the day or night – possibly better at night because of the external lighting
Intimately tied to its setting, the genesis of The Darling’s rebirth required consideration of several site constraints that would ultimately produce the distinguishing features of the home’s intricately modelled form. Most pressing was the welcoming of natural light into the space while remaining within the local council’s height restrictions. Although possessing an advantageous view of a golf course behind the site, the east fronting and west backing with a significant fall towards the rear and a neighbouring large home flanking the plot presented a challenge. Another consideration came from the family, with the request for all rooms to have a view of either the front courtyard, pool or golf course and a desire to have very specific, non-direct lighting in the family’s beloved snooker room to create the optimal playing conditions.
Drawing upon this, the design and layout prompted imperative ideation of apertures, lighting and angularity to maximise illumination and outlook. Harnessing the hearty width and slope of the block, Peter and Hayden Wooldridge of Apto & Best Architects laboured synergistically to transform Peter’s vision for the levels of the site, producing a sketch that would underpin the final design. “I actually started the design concept with sections, not floor plans,” Peter explains. “With the help of Hayden’s creative vision and enthusiastic mindset, we created lots of different angles throughout the house to help with natural light and height restriction. So, a lot of the challenges of the site had turned to positives.”
Peter worked closely with Acubuilt’s Tai Nguyen to realise the plans. “Tai and I go back about 15 years, when he used to work for my building company,” Peter explains. “He has aways been the ultimate professional with the attitude that nothing is too hard or can't be built. He sets really high standards for his staff and has an eye for detail that has to be seen to be believed.” Working together with such a close-knit and experienced team allowed Peter to bring the home to life. “Through Peter,” the owners reflect, “we were able to meet our builder Tai Nguyen from Acubuilt, who is trustworthy, personable and has an amazing attention to detail.” Adding, “we are very fortunate to have him lead the project build.” Peter agrees, reflecting, “I can honestly say that without having Tai with me throughout this project, the clients wouldn’t have the home they have today.”
Euroluce Lighting
ECOMMERCE WEBSITE WITH MOBLE