Arli Custom Case Study
Project Acacia, South Melbourne
| House size | 257m² |
| Land size | 162.64m² |
| Site | Knockdown Rebuild |
| Completed | March 2024 |
Nestled within South Melbourne’s heritage precinct, Project Acacia represents a harmonious blend of contemporary architectural innovation and heritage sensitivity.
Embracing the challenges that come with compact inner-city sites, this custom home combines sophistication, sustainability and contemporary practicality in a modern family home, while remaining sensitive to its streetscape.
Client vision
“We dreamed of a home that felt sophisticated and luxurious but still ‘lived in’. We wanted to use more standard products over premium to ensure the project remained cost-effective and within our budget.”
MARYANNE
Our clients, a growing family of four, dreamed of a modern, light-filled home that maximised their compact urban block. They sought a design that would:
- Accommodate their evolving needs
- Provide ample space for entertaining
- Incorporate smart storage solutions
- Embrace an indoor-outdoor lifestyle
Architectural approach
This residence spans three meticulously designed levels, embodying an elegant modern aesthetic with a focus on warmth, functionality, and timeless sophistication.
A striking facade
The home’s design strikes a balance between bold modernity and heritage respect, with a façade defined by curves, arches, and cantilevered brickwork that appears to float effortlessly.
Custom curved windows and arched brick detailing add visual rhythm, while an expansive skylight divides the building’s form, flooding the interiors with natural light.
Innovative space utilisation
The building takes the form of two sections brought together by the skylight, separating the internal living spaces from the garage, which can also double as an additional living space.
The clever interior design response replicates the rest of the home, adding to the uniqueness and versatility of the design.
Inviting interiors
Created in collaboration with DKO Architecture, the interiors are light-filled, warm and inviting, characterised by textured materials and a thoughtful layering of dark tones.
Lowline windows expose greenery and bring the outside in, while the considered placement of windows invites the northern light.
“We love our new home. We had a very small site so the design was a challenge, but Arli were able to resolve it well and build a beautiful home for our family.”
MARYANNE
Materials and finishes
Our team carefully selected materials to achieve a premium look while balancing functionality and budget. Our integrated design and build process allowed us to:
- Engineer cost-effective construction strategies from the initial design stages
- Leverage strong supplier relationships for unique and economical solutions
- Achieve premium aesthetics using products from Arli’s standard range that give a luxurious feel and benefit from Arli’s buying power
Some of the luxury finishes and features included in this home
Cantilevered brickwork over the entry and curved, arched brickwork around the windows
Tactile brickwork to fit in with the character of the neighbourhood
Aluminium cladding flush integrated garage and entry door
Basement floor
Custom shower screens
Venetian plaster throughout the home for a touch of luxury
Fluted glass for added visual interest, texture and privacy
Custom wardrobe joinery
Challenges and innovative solutions
Every project has unique hurdles. For Project Acacia, we leveraged our expertise to turn these challenges into creative solutions that enhanced the final design. Has your builder put your project in the too hard basket? Arli can help.
Compact site
Challenge
Designing a spacious family home on a compact inner-city site meant every design decision was crucial.
Solution
To maximise space, we:
- Used vertical space with a three-level design
- Incorporated multi-functional areas like the convertible garage
- Maximised natural light with a wraparound skylight to create a sense of spaciousness
Heritage overlays
Challenge
Balancing contemporary aesthetics with heritage sensitivity while navigating heritage overlays and town planning requirements.
Solution
We navigated these restrictions and regulations by:
- Designing a facade that respects the streetscape while standing out
- Using traditional materials in contemporary ways
- Creating a structure that appears to ‘float’ effortlessly
“I love the fact that we could build an architectural home for a more affordable price as the team at Arli were able to offer suggestions to keep the price down without compromising the look and feel.
As always there are challenges with any build, but the team at Arli were extremely proactive and able to resolve them promptly.
It’s evident that the team are very passionate about what they do and we felt heard and valued throughout the entire process.
Thank you everyone at the Arli team! We would definitely build with them again — highly recommend.”
MARYANNE
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