The Award-Winning Home of an Architect That Unites Architecture, Art, Design and Craft (House Tour)

Located near central Melbourne with a view towards the Yarra River, Kew Residence is home of an architect that unites architecture, art, design and craft. Designed by and for John Wardle of John Wardle Architects, the architecture and interior design is intricately detailed, with emphasis placed on materiality and bespoke elements. The house is positioned to appear as part of the natural landscape of elm trees on the site, in a way that reflects the respect for nature inherent in Japanese design. The architect’s love of the Japanese artefact is depicted in the forms and specifications within the interior design and architecture. Throughout the house, custom Japanese tiles are used as a measure, with spaces designed in response to the size, shape and aesthetic of the tiling. The kitchen walls feature a scalloped tile from the Tajimi Valley in Japan. A downstairs space known as the Bamboo Forest Room features tiles produced in a singular kiln in the Tajimi Valley. Each piece is slightly different, creati