CONCRETE VISION

Spying the potential in an off-the-plan apartment, Tecture director Ben Robertson manifested his minimalist dream home with ample room to display a burgeoning art collection.

WHAT APPEALED TO YOU ABOUT YOUR HOME? We (my partner Ben Whittaker and I) knew we wanted an apartment in the city and within Melbourne’s Collingwood or Fitzroy area. We had been looking for a small space to call home when we came across a development and thought we would try our luck in asking the developer if we could purchase one of the apartments – on the condition we could alter the floor plan and design the interiors. Purchasing off-the-plan was a little risky, but we were fortunate to be given the green light to make our mark and this gave us the flexibility of achieving an outcome that reflected our vision – and a few material bonuses along the way, such as the concrete floor.

HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE INTERIOR? Minimalist. For the apartment, we wanted the interior to take on a subtle connection to the exterior palette, while also reflecting a gallery-like space for our art. Collingwood itself is filtered with galleries and creative spaces and we wanted to embody that overall aesthetic.
WHAT DO YOU ENJOY ABOUT LIVING HERE? We love that our home is compact in scale, yet doesn’t feel restrictive in its size. At first, there was concern about being south facing but with the roof terrace glazed hatch, the space never feels dark. Its proximity to work means I’m able to lunch at home, and the city views are a constant reminder of this little slice of tranquillity.
DO YOU HAVE A WORK-FROM-HOME SET-UP? When we first moved in, we set up one of the three bedrooms as a home office, but in 2020 we moved offices to a place which is only 600 metres away, so we decided that it was not necessary. Most of our work can be remotely accessed if necessary, and the dining area is an easy space to pull out the laptop or to sketch designs. But, most likely, you will find me at the office, an easy five-minute stroll away.