Perched in the treetops in Melbourne’s leafy north-east suburbs, Silvertop House is a contemporary expression of the natural living ethos, synonymous with this beautiful locality.

Ben Callery Architects harmoniously reinterpreted the natural architecture in the area by applying Silvertop Ash timber cladding to a simple, floating, geometric form; complimented by Rylock powder coat frames in Custom Black, to deliver a home that sits comfortably in its surrounding environment.

The owners are a family of four who required flexible, zoned spaces to enable work, play, and creativity. The front of the home is oriented to the north and was raised so the living spaces and deck are in the treetops, allowing the living rooms to enjoy passive solar gain and unobstructed sunlight, whilst maintaining privacy from the street below.

The living room features a 4-panel Stacker Door and expansive Fixed Lite and Sliding Windows for substantial crossflow ventilation. The ceiling rakes up to an east-facing highlight Fixed Lite Window, (coupled to Louvre products) that draws in the morning sun.

The home’s second living room is a flexible space that features a Fixed Lite Window with an in-built seat for relaxing amongst the treetop views. The bedroom wing is perpendicular to the living wing, running the length of the block where the bedrooms and bathroom feature Sliding Windows with a slim profile that doesn’t protrude into surrounding spaces. The sash range of motion is controlled by an acrylic handle for minimal visual attention and a hinged dust cover preventing debris from falling into the product’s track.

The majority of the house is designed from lightweight materials and heavily insulated, whereby Rylock’s high performance, window and door solutions (with Low-E Double Glazing) deliver thermal efficiency for the occupant’s comfort.

Frame Colour: Custom Black (Matt)

Glazing: Grade A Safety Toughened Low-e Double Glazing (Argon Fill)

Builder: Truewood Constructions

Designer: Ben Callery Architects