The two story house deliberately presents to the street looking like a single level house. The house is a sculptural play of solid and void with the horizontal concrete roof appearing to hover above the house. The house has been designed to maximize winter sun penetration while providing shade through summer with excellent cross ventilation providing cooling summer breezes through the house.

This striking Laguna Pool & Spa was expertly designed by Plume Studios to complement a sophisticated inner-city lifestyle and a striking architectural home. The result is a truly spectacular outdoor oasis that exudes luxury and maintains practicality. Located in one of Melbourne's most liveable suburbs, Clifton Hill is unusually spacious with picturesque streets, and deep blocks, and this Laguna Pool reflects its urban environment perfectly. Exposed brick borders softened by lush greenery encourage a gentle cohesion between the strong lines of the pool and sweeping arch that defines the spa.

Despite it’s location, this is not a country style garden. The client’s brief was for a structured, minimalist look. Concrete in it’s many forms features strongly in this garden. Concrete blocks, a by-product of concrete production, were sourced for the substantial retaining walls. And, steel U-Piles, usually used in civil projects, made the perfect material for another, very narrow retaining wall where space was at a premium. Water from the custom made concrete channel spills into the Corten steel water feature. The plants shapes had to be strong enough to hold up against the strong geometric lines and at the same time soften and support the structures. The main shapes are provided by pruned Box and Casuarina balls, heavily pruned grey Helichrysum and the softer, free flowing shapes of grasses. Trees give height, Acer Senkaki and Magnolia denudata are the main feature trees.

Central to the success of this project is the seamless link between interior and exterior zones. The external zones free-flow off the interior to create a sophisticated yet secluded space to lounge, entertain and dine.