St Kilda Residence Case Study

Imbued with the warmth of materials and light, the home is organised around a series of enclosed courtyards that each offer aspect and integral amenity. Robust materials are incorporated throughout, but the hero and focal element is undeniably rammed earth — chosen for both its thermal performance and its striking, stratified aesthetic.

“Rammed earth is one of the most beautiful building materials; we refer to it as being perfectly imperfect,” ADDARC director Rohan Appel shares. “Once you embrace the imperfections, you begin to appreciate them and the material’s natural beauty.” The warm, sandy tones of the rammed earth are echoed throughout the landscape design by Vogue Grange, where stepping stones, a concrete bench, and lush plantings create a series of intimate outdoor rooms.

A defining feature of the architecture is its dynamic response to the environment. The integration of high-performance Evaya ev80 external venetian blinds within the deep rammed earth reveals allows the facade to actively moderate sunlight, heat, and privacy. When lowered, the blinds present a continuous horizontal texture that complements the stratification of the rammed earth. When tilted or raised, they dissolve the boundary between the refined interiors and the verdant courtyards beyond.

The ev80’s 80mm rolled-edge C-shaped aluminium slats offer 160° of rotation and full vertical travel — allowing the home to shift between complete transparency and total enclosure with effortless precision. Their warm bronze finish tonally harmonises with the rammed earth, ensuring the product reads as an integral part of the architecture rather than an addition.

The true value of external venetian blinds lies in their adaptability. Across a single day, the facade transforms to meet the precise needs of the occupants and the climate. The following sequence, photographed from the same vantage point within the courtyard garden, demonstrates the three primary states of the Evaya ev80 as installed at this residence.

The internal program offers an open-plan living, dining, and kitchen area that enjoys the movements of natural light throughout the day. The kitchen is designed for a serious cook, featuring a Taj Mahal quartzite island and premium Wolf appliances. An adjacent study serves as a music conservatory “for when the clients host musical soirees,” complete with the client’s own grand piano.

A primary bedroom and additional guest bedroom offer aspect and connection while also being separate enough for moments of respite. Outside, a communal veggie garden and fruit orchard is shared with neighbours — a gesture of generosity that speaks to the project’s broader philosophy of community and connection.

Beyond the passive qualities that optimise thermal performance, sustainable construction methodologies were employed throughout. This included dual heat pumps, thermal mass, enhanced insulation, automation control, an extensive solar array with battery storage provision, rainwater reuse, thermally improved glazing, and car charging facilities.

The Evaya ev80 external venetian blinds contribute directly to this sustainable outcome — intercepting solar radiation before it reaches the glazing, reducing cooling loads by up to 75% compared to internal blinds, and allowing the home to respond dynamically to the Melbourne climate across all four seasons.