IN CONVERSATION | Jolson Architecture and Interiors
In Conversation with Stephen Jolson and Mat Wright, Jolson Architecture and Interiors.
What was the inspiration for your architectural design at Como, Toorak?
Como is a holistic design approach for 17 luxury apartments in Toorak. The design is immersive and holistic and celebrates its context. What we wanted to try and do is design a building that connects to its surrounding landscape, including the proximity to Como Park.
The large garden style apartments create a sophisticated and considered experience.
We placed an emphasis on craftsmanship in the design, giving deep architectural expression. The focus on connection from the interiors to the outside is evidenced in the deep garden beds allowing an intimate experience with foliage internally while connecting with the longer landscape vistas of the project.
Which architectural aspect excites you most about this project?
The facade of the building celebrates the inherent handmade quality of clay bricks which wraps the exterior of the building.
We worked with Spanish brick producer, VicenteCamp, to create custom forms, a specific curve form brick for this project that reflects a softness whilst using a robust material. We think it defines to the identity and quality of this project.
How did you approach the interiors at Como?
I think one thing special about this project is the layout of and the sizes of the apartments. In the early days, we spoke a lot with Prime Edition about their minimum standard for the living rooms and the bedroom sizes.
We have an inherent understanding of the demographic of the purchaser. We’ve worked for many years in understanding their needs and how they live in their homes.
The interior layout and design of the apartments draws on our extensive knowledge of customising and designing very high end single residential projects over the last 25 years. What we’ve created at Como is a series of very generous and open planned apartments, , finely crafted in every sense of detail and articulation.
The way we approach each apartment interior is like an individual home. We think about its orientation and its position in the building and how to best maximise the floor plan and layout for that particular apartment. So, in this way, each apartment is individually crafted, they are not based on a repeat or pattern.
How has the site context of Como influenced your approach to this project?
The site context is paramount to this project from the interior’s perspective, we have placed a series of very generous garden planters that create this very beautiful organic veil that wraps each apartment. The idea is to seamlessly connect the interiors to the adjoining landscape of Como Park and the large estate gardens of the surrounding suburbs whilst providing privacy from the street
The project has a strong focus on landscape and organic form, with articulated subtle curves and softness into the interior and architecture of the building. The idea is to break down the hard edges and to allow natural light to play and fall softly off the surface of the material palette.
There is definitely a holistic design language in this project where the chiseled edges of expressed columns and the curves of material work together to form the architecture. You’ll notice the soft curves of these external elements are then reinforced in the way the joinery has been detailed, the way the fireplaces have been crafted so it’s a complete holistic language which then extends to the garden and planters as well.
You have mentioned that the inside/outside connection has been a key to this project coming to life, can you elaborate
Working with Paul Bangay has allowed us to delve into some very interesting landscape gestures and the way that it has developed on this project will be a very strong focus.
Working with the deep recessive balconies, we’ve achieved an architectural depth that is perhaps different to other development projects at the moment, providing a real sense of quality.
There is also a great play of shadow and light on the facade with the materials, with the curved brick and the curved glass there is a lovely poetry in how this building presents itself.
How has your experience been working with the Prime Edition team on this landmark project?
We’ve enjoyed Prime Edition’s commitment to craftsmanship on this project and as the building is now coming out of the ground, we’re starting to see the detail coming together, which is going to be a very special part of the project.
The collaboration with the Prime Edition team has been a valuable experience because they see and understand the need to invest in good quality contemporary design, and that it’s not just about an architectural form.
This translates right down to the meticulous and detailed choice of materials at Como and the execution of a very high-quality product.
The approach to this project from the beginning from both parties has been investing in a very bespoke, handcrafted, sophisticated result and I think that that will become evident as the building continues to reveal itself over coming months
We can’t wait to see the finished product.