Architects adopt a textured approach

Shades of grey: An artist's impression of the boutique South Yarra apartment building.

Scaffolding around the building in Domain Road, South Yarra, has been keeping passers-by intrigued for months. Designed by award-winning Wood Marsh Architecture, the building is contemporary and sophisticated. And rather than screaming for attention, there's an understated elegance.

The project, comprising four apartments built by Schiavello - which also specialises in high-end furniture - it is destined to become a Melbourne landmark.

Elevated on an angled concrete podium, this building makes creative use of in situ concrete, glass, aluminium and steel. And rather than creating one facade repeated on three sides, Wood Marsh devised three responses.

To the rear, the building is predominantly concrete, with large punctuated openings for windows. The Domain Road elevation is entirely glazed, with faceted glass walls reflecting the Botanic Gardens opposite. Included in this aspect is a pond on one of the terraces, with water reflecting autumn leaves.

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''We saw this building like a Mondrian painting. It's not just the rectilinear glass panes, separated by fine aluminium, it's also the texture produced through this faceted approach,'' says architect Randal Marsh, co-director of the practice, who worked with project architect David Goss.

While the facade to Domain Road appears in contrast to the rear of the building, which is almost all concrete, Marsh points out that the apertures on both ends are similar, with the choice of materials creating different outcomes.

''It's a development that reflects on contemporary artists such as Sol LeWitt. They produce different results depending on the tones of their palette,'' says Marsh.

Rather than ''cut'' into the facade from Domain Road, the architects located the entry in Millswyn Street, creating a more private sense of arrival. This facade is described by Marsh as ''eating away the concrete'' (metaphorically).

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Architects adopt a textured approach