Kister Architects

This contemporary extension on a double suburban block sensitively integrates contemporary family living with the original home’s Modernist beginnings.

Embodying biophilic principles to enhance connection to landscape, the design blurs the distinction between the existing and new elements to create a unified architectural entity.

A key strategy to achieve this seamless impression was to stretch the original concrete façade away from the existing building to form the ‘skin’ of the master retreat. Beyond this, versatile spaces feature easy transitions from public to private zones, inside and out.

The prevailing aesthetic is a nuanced balance of old and new, with the original features retained and echoed in new fittings and finishes. Sustainable features, including skylights, double glazing and solar panels, have been adopted throughout.

Eschewing conventional strategies has resulted in a home that is able to flex with its owners’ lifestyle and allows them a greater work-life balance.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

In bayside Mount Martha, this single-storey holiday residence is a serene sanctuary enveloped by nature.

Briefed to create a multi-generational family retreat, Kister Architects deftly designed distinct zones for privacy and entertaining, with an interplay of openness and enclosure, solidity and transparency.

Biophilic design principles underpin the seamless integration of interior and exterior. Considered siting exploits the northerly aspect and locates a triangular plan around a central courtyard to maximise the penetration of natural light year-round.

A high, charred-timber wall shields the home from the street before peeling away to reveal a covered entry, beyond which lie the main volumes. The natural material selection is continued throughout, highlighted by natural light, while the pergola and central courtyard create an everchanging play of shadow and light.

Founded upon sustainable principles, every element – from louvred windows for cross ventilation to solid blockwork for thermal mass – deliberately serves a functional and aesthetic purpose.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

The Church Space is a conversion to a modest Church, creating an haven within dense inner-city Collingwood. This former place of worship.is a private urban sanctuary integrated with a new home.

The design celebrates the historic beauty and immense space of the heritage church building. The renovation complements and contrasts the original fabric of the space whilst maintaining the vast openness. A new kitchenette, library and powder room have been inserted, all built in black and mirrored finishes to maintain visual prominence to original once concealed detail of the church. a new deck and garage complete the space allowing the large archway to open up into an external entertaining zone.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

“We thoroughly enjoyed the process of working with Ilana on the renovation of our house – a deconsecrated 19th century church. It was an extremely positive collaboration as Ilana involved us in all aspects of her design. Her vision paid homage to the cultural significance of the property, yet it now has all the comforts and efficiency of contemporary functionality. The renovation was completed in a timely fashion and was kept within budget. I have no hesitation in recommending Ilana’s services.”

The Courtyard House encompasses both a new build and a conversion to the modest St Saviour’s Church in inner-city Collingwood. With its dense composite of residential conversions and developments within mixed-use industria, this context provided an architectural opportunity to rethink the family home while incorporating a former place of worship.

The owner-architect’s brief was to create a private sanctuary for a family of five within this urban hub. Implicit in this was the versatile utilisation of the church space.

As a primary response, the approach was to maximise the site footprint and northern orientation to create a seamless integration of old and new, interior and landscape.

High perimeter walls create an immediate sense of enclosure and proportionate scale to the church and nearby buildings. Where a curved plane of concrete in this facade peels away along the street front, a concealed entry opens into a vast outdoor courtyard, dominated by a 17-metre lap pool and concrete canopy above.

The church rises to the right, while at ground level it is sensitively connected to the new construct via a glass link. This is a pivotal point; more than a physical connection, it is a symbolic link between old and new, a subtle transition into the former place of worship.

Similarly connecting the old and new, the circular courtyard is the site’s focus. Raised to the ground plane of the built elements at upper-street level, its form is a nod to Ground’s Hill St house. In the courtyard’s creation, the standard house cube has been cut away and, where it thins to an horizontal plane, the resultant canopy creates a sharp linear contrast to the rounded forms.

Orientated to this courtyard, the home’s living areas on both levels are flooded with northern light, which generates a play of light and shade within and blurs the boundaries between inside and out. The upper level is set back and overlooks the courtyard and a roof garden. The clarity of detail and pared back finishes throughout create a clean Modernist aesthetic that elicits a sense of calm, in contrast to the bustle of the urban surrounds.

An extensive use of concrete in this new addition both complements and contrasts the existing church fabric, while original windows and bluestone footings have been reintegrated into the new building and landscape in considered ways.

The church itself has been stripped back to its core structural elements. By demolishing the apse and bricked archways, and inserting glazing instead, its formerly dark interior is flooded with light and celebrates the building’s historic beauty and volume.

Sustainable principles have been adopted throughout: skylights and internal windows allow natural light into internal spaces, reducing the need for artificial light; heat gain is controlled through canopies, double glazing and blinds; the courtyard allows continuous cross ventilation; and, the thermal mass of exposed ground slab, coupled with appropriate insulation, helps to regulate the internal environment in all seasons. The rooftop garden provides insulation, softening the exterior aspect and attracts wildlife in this urban location.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

A home nestled into the hill.

A new home built on a tiny site for empty nesters.

This is a courtyard house built to capture the light. Set on a 270m2 site, the living spaces open to the North and West to maximise garden courtyards and natural light.

This project uses cladding that is better than carbon neutral, solar energy for hot water and electricity, water tanks for irrigation, thermally broken window frames, low emission glazing and extensive insulation.

Dear ilana,

We want to let you know how pleased we are with the house. With some furniture and paintings and a growing garden (lots of roses), the house looks lovely and the few days that we spent in the house gave us much pleasure.

Kind regards, and thank you again.

Sonia and John

This home is testament to a 6 year journey of perseverance and determination (not to mention love) by architect, client and builder!

The project posed an interesting challenge from day one: to design a contemporary space for a fabulous art collection and a home for entertaining, framing a view of Melbourne's CBD in a dense inner city location.

The corner site (allowing great opportunities as well as constraints) had a heritage overlay whilst the house little to no heritage significance.

What began as a renovation project in town planning, ended up in a VCAT mediation, followed by two VCAT hearings and was finally awarded a permit after 3 years. The early stage of construction exposed structurally unsound remains. After much negotiations and compromises with council, a permit was issued to build from new.

Our project began in May 2005 and my clients moved in August 2011.

The residence was driven by my clients’ extensive art collection, the local typology and the ever-changing Melbourne skyline. Our outcome is a space designed to double as home and art gallery.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

“We have built 2 houses with Ilana’s design, one an urban home on a small site on the city fringe and a second in a country setting on a larger site.

Both houses reflect perfectly their setting and respond to the brief Ilana was given to suit each location. We love both houses and reside comfortably in each. Ilana has successfully managed to meet our requirements to achieve this outcome.

We found working with Ilana to be smooth and uncomplicated. She is efficient and is flexible when this is needed and works compatibly with builders, contractors and tradesmen.

In summary Ilana is easy to work with, innovative and responds well to the brief bringing her aesthetic to ours to achieve the desired outcome.

We are very happy to recommend her architectural services. “

This is a house that was begging for some love. The best of the 1960’s mixed with all lovely shiny new finishes and finessed details.

This Doctors surgery and clinic was designed to sit within its locale and context comfortably. It is located within the city of Glen Eira, surrounded by 1960’s residential architecture. The brief was to maintain the scale of surrounding context but address the commercial use.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

Castlefield Reserve Pavilion is a sports facility located on Ludstone Street, Hampton.

This design was realised in association with GHP architects.

A pared back ply lined home to admire its landscape and escape the urban lifestyle.

Caulfield House 2011 

The brief for the project was to take a dark, dated 70's home into the future. A seamless solution that pays homage to the retro design of the 70's. by retaining existing joinery and features. The result is light filled contemporary home which blends the new and the old.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

An old warehouse in the historic Victorian Distillery was transformation into 2-level home located on the East Melbourne fringe. The brief was to maintain the volume and light-filled space, whilst creating a cozy home for a family of 3.

Breathe, flow, learn, grow.

The brief for The Yoga Space Melbourne was to create a community space born out of love and passion for yoga.

It’s a space of warmth, connection and community.

A place that is inviting, simple and spacious.

A space just to be.

Warehouse Conversion 2010 

The warehouse was built in the early 1900's, Used as a storeroom for a nearby supermarket; the red brick building was converted into a mechanics workshop in the 1920s. Over the years it has had many lives and most recently an office. 

This project was a conversion of an old warehouse into a family home and office space. The brief was to retain large volume spaces whilst creating cosy private spaces for bedrooms. The house retains rich textures in the building, with exposed timber beams, bluestone and red brick interior walls juxtaposed with clean contemporary plaster walls and 2pack joinery. This project allowed re-working of elements from the past to create interesting layering in the design.

Photography: Justin Bernhaut

Located on a small site in South Melbourne and covered by a heritage overlay, this project pushes the Rescode boundaries. This project began as an extension to a worker's cottage frontage (Victorian red brick) in 2001.

After 11 years the owners returned with 2 grown up kids with no space to move. We designed a small studio/office on the rear of the property and relocated the garden up onto the roof.

Photography: Michelle Williams

Located on a small site in South Melbourne and covered by a heritage overlay, this project pushes the Rescode boundaries. It was necessary to build a shell to contain the new 3 storey rear extension. The back opens out with large pivot doors to maximise entertaining space. The completed works respond to the brief, "build as much as possible", and balance the solidity of the existing worker's cottage frontage (Victorian red brick).

Warehouse Conversion 2003 

We began with a 160 square meter warehouse shell in Melbourne's CBD. The space was divided into two separate zones - office and home. The entry, a glamorous foyer, separates the zones through the use of hidden pivot doors. The residential zone, a lofty light apartment with open plan living, remains private. The solution is a 2 bedroom warehouse conversion that masquerades as an office during working hours.

Photography: Justin Bernhaut

Apartment refurbishment 2000 

This project was a fit out of a 14th floor apartment in The Domain building, which overlooks the Melbourne CBD, shrine and bay. The brief was for a dramatic theatrical space to maximise views. An awkward apartment was gutted and opened out. The solution is a flexible area of multiple extensions boasting countless shimmering surfaces and large moveable elements to allow for mood and practicality. The reflective ceiling and floor (parts of) capture the images of changing sky and parklands. The outdoor scenery becomes the backdrop for the theatrical apartment.

Photography: Peter Bennetts

Extreme sports management office 2001

The project was a low budget fit out for a 220 square meter warehouse shell in South Melbourne. The unique interior reflects the relaxed office culture of extreme sports managers. The design aimed to create an accessible and comfortable meeting venue for their young athletic clientele. Design elements include an industrial fence utilised to segregate the spaces - a grassed skateboard-ramp foyer, a red boardroom and offices incorporating car park elements. 

Photography: Justin Bernhaut

This house is located on the cliff at Mt Eliza. The brief was to renovate an existing home and create a space that not only maximized light and the expansive view, but also created privacy for the different habitable zones.

The brief was to build an extension onto a weatherboard Victorian house. The site was extremely tight and the building sat on exactly the same footprint as the existing single storey residence.