Defined by Detail – Bodel by Workroom

Surrounded by the historic factories and warehouses that characterise North Melbourne, a new building by Workroom slots in seamlessly, belying its residential nature. Carefully considered details – from the macro scale right down to the finest of nuances – define the success of Bodel, which seamlessly integrates form and function. Here, detail is elevated to create a sense of purpose, with everything right down to the ZETR electrical fixtures having an integral role to play in this deeply considered and finely-honed new home.

Creative Director of Workroom John Bornas explains that in response to the surrounding urban environment, the intention was for the home “to have its own identity but feel like it had always been there – as if an existing warehouse had been converted to a residence.”

This approach began with an exploration of form, space and material, and resulted in a building that references the local vernacular. The interior is minimalistic, with clean lines and open spaces. John describes a “strong emphasis on material detailing and lighting [that] allowed us to create a rich yet pared-back interior.”

He explains that this created more space to showcase “material choices and brought texture and depth to each space.”

For Workroom, the use of materials that contribute holistically to the design was crucial. Referencing the initial concept of the warehouse conversion, “the materials are kept deliberately raw and minimal, creating an immediate tactile warmth that allows you to experience the building on multiple levels. It goes beyond the visual, creating a direct connection with the fabric of the building.”

These robust materials, such as the cast concrete walls and ceiling and the thick black window frames, establish a sense of solidity in the light-filled open-plan spaces. This is then offset by the more fluid and gentle elements, like the gracefully curving spiral of the steel staircase and the Verde Alpi marble kitchen island bench with gentle eddies and currents that seem to swirl beneath its smooth and glassy surface.

A key element that serves as a gentle, curved touchpoint is the electrical outlets and switches specified throughout Bodel – the 12 surface-mounted series by ZETR. These fixtures, with their effortless curves and the subtle shadow line created by the 2.9-millimetre profile, are able to bring a sense of softness to the concrete walls they sit against. “

For us, the ZETR 12 range is about detail,” says John. “It married perfectly with our intentions for the space and continues our ethos of rigorous detailing at every level.” Designed by ZETR to be a purposeful choice, 12 applies the company’s core design philosophy of refined, minimal curves to this surface mount series, in a simplified format.

ZETR 12 ensures no compromise on the greater design concept need be made for the sake of practicality.

ZETR 12 ensures no compromise on the greater design concept need be made for the sake of practicality. The clients – two of whom also happen to be the creators of design studio Spy Studio – specified the use of ZETR for this project.

Mary Spy of Spy Studio explains that in addition to the elegance of the range and its capacity to visually harmonise with the interior aesthetic, ZETR 12 also offered practical benefits. “Being a pre-cast [concrete] build, there was a lot of hesitancy around placement and having switches cast in,” she says. “The fact that ZETR 12 has this little bit of tolerance for your trades, but still [delivers] the aesthetic outcome is great.”

“The 12 series expands the ZETR offering to more projects, including those with deliberate finishes such as the concrete throughout Bodel.

Understanding the importance of detail and execution when it comes to projects like this, we always welcome and encourage collaboration between ZETR and the designer, clients and trades on site.” says Garth Elliott, Founder of ZETR. Ultimately, ZETR 12 enables a sense of continuity between “idea and execution,” as John tells it.

It demonstrates that every element of a home, no matter how functional, can be intentional and elegant in its contribution to the overall concept.

For Workroom, this concept echoes the studio’s approach in general, “one of timelessness rather than fashion.” Equally, the successful application of materials and motifs within a home is about more than just a visually satisfying space. “Our design becomes an exploration of form, space and material, exploiting what each of these elements can bring to a project,” John reflects. “It’s about making a connection between the building and those who live there that is grounded in a rigorous exploration of all elements.”

At Bodel, this results in a home of distinctive presence. With each and every detail integral to the design as a whole, the project exemplifies how such attention to detail results in a cohesive, functional and satisfying lived-in space.

Words by Sarah Sivaraman
Architecture by Workroom
Photography by Dave Kulesza
Interior Design by Workroom
Interior Fixtures and Furniture, Feature Lighting Spy Studio Switches & Sockets ZETR