13 Eaglemont Crescent

Eaglemont VIC 3084

Grand contemporary style, stunning city views
This is no house for show-offs. Rather than flaunt its wares to the world, this house keeps its best features hidden away inside and out back. Only residents and their guests get to appreciate the property's striking contemporary design, leaving passers-by none the wiser about what lies within. The owner-builder of this house said the high fence and grey-render fa?ade were deliberately designed to be nondescript. This helps heighten the sense of anticipation and surprise when entering the house for the first time but, most importantly, it enhances the sense of privacy. Part of the brief to architect Adrian Amore was to create a haven for busy people with busy lives; the sort of place you don't just come home to but to which you can really escape. This may have been a breath of fresh air for Amore, whose work at leading Melbourne firm Fender Katsalidis was best known for its head-turning, headline-grabbing looks. Here, the architect almost playfully builds the sense of mystery by making you descend into the house from either the rows of bluestone steps out front or down from the six-car, rooftop carport. It feels a bit like entering a high-security bunker or even heading down a rabbit hole into a new world. The entrance off the garage brings you face to face with the vast open lounge and its wall of glass stretching up to six-metre-high ceilings. An elevated passage takes you to another set of stairs and further down into the family hub. It is clear you have arrived somewhere special and that Amore succeeded in creating the luxurious hideaway the owners wanted. Taking in this expansive contemporary space is like flicking through the pages of a high-end design magazine. In one section you'll find the lounge and the dining area; the other houses the kitchen and sitting room. Stylish and practical, the kitchen has funky green concrete benches and high-end appliances, including a 900-illimetre Smeg oven and built-in Miele coffee machine, as well as a large butler's pantry. It was also designed to give you a full view of the living spaces and backyard from the island bench, meaning the kids will almost always be in sight. The owner also wanted a house that was crisp and ontemporary with plenty of clean lines. That's why the ceilings don't have cornices, the floors are clad in light, luxurious marble tiles, and even the hydronic heating has been incorporated into the design. The standout feature is, however, the large floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors that seamlessly connect the interiors with outdoor entertainment areas. The raised deck was built around a soaring 150-year-old elm, surely one of the most significant trees in Eaglemont. Guests can recline beneath the tree or in the detached outdoor dining space. As the sun goes down, your guests may want to return to the rooftop carport to catch full views of the entire city by night. Accommodation is thoughtfully zoned, with three bedrooms and a home office down below, the 52-square-metre main bedroom up top, and a second study tucked away at the rear of the floor plan. Big on surprises, the property also has a 47-square-metre cellar hidden beneath the lounge.
LIAM CARTER