Adam Kane Architects banishes colour to create Grey House in Australia

Australian studio Adam Kane Architects has designed an all-grey house in the southeastern state of Victoria, blanketing its surfaces in fog-like polished plaster.

Named after its neutral colour palette, Grey House is a holiday home for studio founder Adam Kane's own family, located in a valley an hour from Melbourne in the regional town of Daylesford.

When viewed from the front, the large three-bedroom home resembles a modern art gallery, with its monolithic facade and clean lines a stark contrast to the green banks it is nestled in and the forest backdrop behind.

According to Kane, working on his own house was a chance to push the boundaries and experiment with materials at which a client might baulk.

"The home excels in its purpose of a purist aesthetic without compromise on functionality," said Kane.

"Everything is concealed and has a place," he continued. "Removing clutter and an abundance of colours, textures, and materials in combination with a soft polished plaster finish throughout brings an incredible sense of calm".

The all-grey look was achieved by covering the house's walls, doors and wet areas, as well as much of the full-height concealed joinery, in polished plaster.

"There's a softness to this product that could not be achieved with paint – it evolves throughout the day, with the texture intensity changing, as does its mottled sheen," said Kane.

To add further texture to the monochrome interiors, a second finish of stainless steel was added to some surfaces.

In places, the steel was hand-scoured to create a cloud-like aesthetic and allow any future scratches to be quickly buffed out.

The neutral aesthetic is carried over into furnishings, with large smoke-coloured sofas, and coal-coloured tables and chairs. Even the bath and sinks are grey.

Grey House contains three bedrooms and a separate freestanding guesthouse. Its communal spaces are all designed to have their own "feel and purpose", while bedrooms are concealed for privacy and to ensure a cleaner aesthetic.

As the space the family spends most of its time in, the kitchen is one of the house's focal points with a strong visual connection to its adjoining garden providing an "everchanging backdrop".

Located in the foothills of Victoria's Great Dividing Range, the area's climate is often wet, providing a lush green garden for the house's surroundings. However, the existing site only had three pine trees, leading the studio to plant out banks on three sides of the house to create "evergreen" views from all of its rooms.

A small creek running through the site was diverted and around three metres of earth was moved to the front of the house site to create level ground, increasing the house's visual impact from the street.

Kane described the overall effect of Grey House as a "timeless haven" that offers a retreat from the chaos of the world.

"This choice of grey paired with stainless steel accents was deliberate, symbolising neutrality, balance, and introspection," he said. "It serves as a canvas upon which the mind can wander freely, devoid of distractions."

Other monochrome projects on Dezeen include a blue Brooklyn townhouse by LOT Office and the calming Mureli House in Ukraine by Makhno Studio.

The photography is by Timothy Kaye.

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