King Street

The Italian-style villa was designed in 1998 for a large family of 5, plus 2 grandparents. The client’s brief was to capture the classical elements of Italian architecture and incorporate them into a neo-classic style home.

The house is thoughtfully divided into three separate forms, evoking the feel of a classic countryside Italian villa. With a strong focus on family life, the design caters to constant entertaining and the traditional Italian activities undertaken by the family, such as making their own pasta and tomato sauce.

One of the main challenges was to capture the morning light, as the main entrance faced west. To overcome this, we used clever window placements and openings to maximise the natural light and create a welcoming ambiance.

The villa features a self-contained space complete with a living room, bathroom and courtyard, as well as window pockets that offer glimpses of the street while maintaining privacy. The use of stone and timber evokes the feeling of an authentic Italian villa, while two pitched roofs and a central modernist Tuscan-inspired roof create a unique and interesting design feature.