Taylor Knights Designs Monolithic Melbourne Home for Three Generations
In Wheelers Hill, Melbourne, Hill House, a multigenerational home designed by the architecture firm Taylor Knights, serves three generations of a single family. Co-founder Peter Knights crafted the design, utilizing brick and concrete to echo Australia’s brutalist architectural style. The residence boasts a central atrium adorned with a vertical garden, alongside wellness spaces and sports amenities, including a soccer pitch and a pickleball court. Its exterior presents a monolithic appearance, while the interior offers a softer ambiance. A bridge connects to the atrium, highlighting the contrast between the protective outer shell and the inviting inner space. The design draws inspiration from notable brutalist structures like Ken Woolley's Sirius Building and was showcased in Wallpaper* magazine, featuring text by Tianna Williams and images by Derek Swalwell.
Key facts
- Hill House is a new multigenerational home in Wheelers Hill, Melbourne, designed by Taylor Knights.
- The house accommodates three generations of one family and includes a soccer pitch and pickleball court.
- It draws on Australia's brutalist traditions, referencing Ken Woolley's Sirius Building, the Fisher Library, and Robin Gibson's Queensland Art Gallery.
- A central atrium with a vertical garden and light-filled void organizes the different parts of the house.
- The exterior is deliberately grounded and monolithic, while the interior features a soft core and a bridge over a sunken garden.
- Co-founder Peter Knights stated the brief was unusually broad, covering family life, work, entertaining, wellness, and sports facilities.
- The design aims to evolve with the family over many years, reimagining suburban living.
- The project was featured in Wallpaper* with writing by Tianna Williams and photography by Derek Swalwell.
Entities
Artists
- Peter Knights
- Ken Woolley
- Robin Gibson
- Tianna Williams
- Derek Swalwell
Institutions
- Taylor Knights
- University of Sydney
- Queensland Art Gallery
- Wallpaper*
Locations
- Melbourne
- Australia
- Wheelers Hill
- Sydney