Behind the design: An architectural statement by trendsetters Auhaus Architecture

Teleisha Thomas

October 2024

31 Leonard 23 — Designed in collaboration with Auhaus Architecture, 31 Leonard Street, Northcote is a striking example of thoughtful design, from the breeze block façade to the sunken lounge that seamlessly connects indoor and outdoor spaces. In this article, we go behind the design with homeowners Stephine and Ryan to learn the innovative features that make this home both stylish and functional.

Can you tell us about your initial concept for the home and how it evolved throughout the design process with Auhaus Architecture.

The initial concept for the home was to create a modern cosy parents retreat with a striking façade. Due to setbacks we introduced a sloped walk in robe which extended right through to the bar.

Northcote is known for its vibrant culture and forward thinking home renovations. How did the neighbourhood influence your design choices?

Leonard Street has no heritage overlay which meant our design choices were quite open (hence the breeze block façade). Northcote is a great suburb to show off some personality.

Walk us through the design of your open plan kitchen and living spaces.

We love entertaining, so making a functional yet aesthetically pleasing space was a big priority for us. We love that our kitchen opens up to our courtyard and turns it into one big space allowing you to move freely throughout. The sunken lounge was a design masterstroke as no one wants to look at the back of a couch and in turn, helped keep the open flow of the kitchen and living area.

31 Leonard 12 — **Were there any unique challenges?**
When we first decided to renovate we wanted to go up a level at the front (as we were already up at the back) but we were quick to find out that we needed to knock the whole front down if we were to achieve our dream vison. This in itself was quite major, not to mention this build was right in the middle of covid with many restrictions and delays. However, due to the high-level of design details, the extra time gave us the ability to stop and get the finer details right.
**Did you integrate any eco-conscious materials or practices in the construction?**
Yes, there are multiple things that we considered within the build. We utilised as much roof space as possible for our solar, which feeds into a Tesla battery which rotates power through the house.

Were there any standout materials that you felt were essential?

Texture was huge for us, and we had plenty of standout textures that we loved - whether that was the small square matte tiles used in the bathrooms, polished concrete floors, the unique marble surface used from the bar through to the main bedroom and of course the breeze block façade. Our cabinetry by Eastwood and Co is also so beautifully finished and a major standout or us, with many different finishes’ dependent on each room.

The breeze brick façade is a beautiful creative marker for Auhaus Architecture. Talk to us about this choice.

To be fair we came across the breezeblock facade from a previous Auhaus design in Cremorne which is why we chose the studio = so they could help us create our own version. We like the fact its different and stands out from the crowd.