Architect Michael Ellis has created his own home, encompassing an apartment, office space and ground floor retail over three levels in Melbourne.
Ellis admits designing for himself proved to be more challenging than working for a client.
"When you’re working for a client it is a lot easier to be objective about what works and what doesn’t. When it came to designing my own home, I found that I struggled a lot more with making decisions. There’s always that question of ‘could this be better?’, but in the end you just have to bite the bullet and be guided by your instincts, or you could find yourself still pondering the same decisions in five years time," he says.
Ellis deliberately made the development just under 300 sqm to avoid having to use concrete between the ground and first floor levels. A narrow building site also influenced this decision. Limiting the building size also enabled him to use more lightweight materials than would otherwise have been possible.
The facade is clad in metal. Inside, kitchen cupboards and drawers are finished in Blackwood, the signature veneer of Michael Ellis Architects. Honed and sealed travertine flooring is featured in the kitchen and bathroom was one of the more expensive materials used in the project.
Two feature windows facing north-west are 687 mm in width, but differ in height, with one measuring 2,200 mm and the other 3,000 mm. Extending up to the roof the windows abut skylights of the same width, creating a wrap over effect.
Paul Yates of Creative Windows, who completed the glazing on the project, says the process of installing such windows was straightforward. "The only real concern with this type of glazing is to ensure you address any potential leaks. To this end, we had a dripedge on the skylight panels so that the water can run off the windows and prevent leakage," says Yates.
A panoramic style window in the bedroom provides views of nearby Point Ormond. In the living area a four panel bifold door system, comprising sashless inserts, opens to an outdoor entertaining area.
"In designing the space I was keen to explore different types of windows to create an innovative and dynamic space," Ellis says.
This approach continues in the first level office space, where a 3,400 mm x 2,900 mm window, with louvres on both sides, angles inwards 15 degrees. The louvres pick up sea breezes and provide effective cross ventilation.
Viridian glass was specified throughout the building, with Viridian SolTech Low E laminated glass used for all glazing to north and west elevations.
Ellis says that in terms of thermal performance, the building performs better than he had anticipated.
"This is largely dueto the stack effect whereby the draught from lower levels funnels upwards and assists with cooling the top level somewhat.Additionally, working in the same building means that I can leave the windows open during the day as much as possible," he says.
